Stern's Hellebore

Helleborus x sternii

Name: Helleborus x sternii
Brand: GROW TROPICALS
SKU: HELLSTER11
Price: 8.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

£8.99

Hardy in the UKEvergreen

Pot size

11cm / 0.75L £8.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Helleborus x sternii is the hellebore for people who want the foliage as much as the flowers. Grey-green, pale-veined leaflets on purplish stems give it a silvery, Mediterranean look all year, and from late winter it carries open sprays of nodding creamy-green flowers flushed lilac-pink, each lasting for weeks. It is a cross between the Corsican hellebore and the silver-leaved Majorcan species, raised in Sir Frederick Stern's chalk garden at Highdown in Sussex, and seed-raised plants vary beautifully between the parents: some greener and tougher, some more silvered and pink-flushed.

Hardiness and seasons. Rated H4 by the RHS, hardy through most of the UK to around -10C given shelter from cold winds and sharp drainage. Evergreen, with the flowers running from late winter to mid spring. The leaves and sap are harmful if eaten and can irritate skin, so plant it away from nibbling pets and wear gloves when cutting back.

In the garden. Compact at around 45cm, it earns a front-row spot in winter pots and sheltered exotic borders, flowering when almost nothing else does. A choice thing among rare and unusual plants for the winter garden.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Stern's Hellebore

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.

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About Stern's Hellebore

Helleborus x sternii needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Pots & Containers

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H4 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −10°C

RHS H4 (-10 to -5C): hardy through most of the UK in a sheltered, well-drained spot. Mulch in autumn and expect some leaf scorch after hard frost, from which it recovers; the most silvered seedlings are slightly tenderer. See what to expect from outdoor plants.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeNorth-facingEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered

Full sun or partial shade, any aspect, with shelter from cold winds essential. A warm wall or a sheltered courtyard suits it perfectly.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamMoist but well-drainedAlkaline pHNeutral pH

Fertile, humus-rich chalk, clay or loam, neutral to alkaline, moist but well-drained. Winter waterlogging is the main killer; add grit on heavy ground.

Watering

Water through the first growing season; established clumps need little beyond an autumn mulch and summer water in prolonged drought. Read moreShow less

Water through the first growing season; established clumps need little beyond an autumn mulch and summer water in prolonged drought.

Mature size

Height0.35 to 0.45m (RHS says to 35cm; Blackthorn Group to 45cm; retailers quote up to 50cm)

Spread0.3 to 0.5m

Reaches full size in 2 to 5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

JFMAMJJASOND

Late winter to mid spring: nodding creamy-green flowers flushed lilac-pink and purple, roughly January or February to April · Green, Pink

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Remove faded or damaged leaves and spent flowering stems as they decline: the flowering stems are biennial and are cut to the base after flowering, letting the new season's shoots take over. Gloves on, the sap irritates skin.

Toxicity

RHS: harmful if eaten; skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Applies to pets too (cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents): keep all parts away from children and animals.

Native range

Garden hybrid of Helleborus argutifolius (Corsica) and H. lividus (Majorca)

Family

Ranunculaceae

Also known as

Helleborus x sternii

Genus

Helleborus

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

How hardy is Helleborus x sternii in the UK?

RHS H4, around -10C, which covers most UK gardens given the two things it insists on: shelter from cold winds and drainage that never waterlogs in winter. It is one band less hardy than its Corsican parent, and plants with more silver in the leaf lean slightly tenderer. In cold inland gardens grow it in a pot moved to shelter for the worst spells.

When does it flower?

Late winter to mid spring, roughly January or February to April, with each flower lasting for weeks. The creamy-green, lilac-flushed sprays open when the garden is at its barest, which is the whole argument for planting it.

Is Helleborus x sternii poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes. Like all hellebores it is harmful if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin, for people and for pets including cats, dogs and rabbits. Plant it out of reach of nibblers, keep it away from children, and wear gloves when handling or cutting back.

Should I cut it back after flowering?

Cut the spent flowering stems to the base once they decline: they are biennial, and removing them lets the new season's shoots take over. Remove faded or scorched leaves as you see them, gloves on. That is the entire pruning calendar.

What is the difference between this and Helleborus argutifolius?

Helleborus argutifolius, the Corsican hellebore, is bigger, plain green and one band hardier at H5. Crossing it with the silver-leaved, pink-flushed Majorcan Helleborus lividus produced x sternii: more compact, with silvery veined foliage and lilac-pink colouring in the flower, in exchange for wanting a touch more shelter.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and in colder gardens that is the smart way: a free-draining peat-free mix with added grit, a frost-proof pot in sun or light shade, and the option to shift it against the house wall in a hard snap. Never let the pot sit saturated over winter.

Are your plants treated with pesticides?

We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.

If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.

Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?

We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.

If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.

Does my plant come with a pot?

Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.

How big will my plant be when it arrives?

Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.

What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?

There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.

What should I do when my plant arrives?

First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.

Will my plant survive being shipped?

Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.

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From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Helleborus x sternii

£8.99