False Hellebore
Veratrum nigrum
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine
Dominicus Johannes Bergsma,Agnieszka Kwiecień ( Nova ),Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Peter Wöhrer,Peter Wöhrer,I.Sáček, senior,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,I.Sáček, senior,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,I.Sáček, senior,I.Sáček, senior
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Genus:
- Veratrum
- Species:
- Veratrum nigrum
- USDA Symbol:
- VENI5
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, maroon, brown
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers damp, woodland environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Germination is erratic and may take several months to over a year. Seeds require cold stratification and consistent moisture.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months Requires soaking. Place in warm water until seeds swell, usually 24-48 hours. Discard water and any seeds that remain floating. * seed very poisonous, wash hands after handling