Veratrum album
(False Hellebore)
Family - Melanthiaceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Europe, North Africa, North Asia
Year of Introduction - 1548
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer
Hardiness - H7
Height - 2m
Width - 60cm
Location - The Woodland Walk
Description: A clump-forming, herbaceous Perennial with an upright habit. Prominent, grey-green to mid-green, pleated leaves are oblong to Elliptic in shape. Small white, star-shaped flowers have green centres. The Blooms are held close together on upright, branched panicles and produced from early to midsummer. The flowers are followed by conspicuous round seed Capsules. This plant contains the toxin, veratrine. Powder made from the rhizomes has been used in insecticides.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Additional common names include Langwort or White Hellebore.
Flower:
Small white, star-shaped flowers have green centres. The flowers are held close together on upright, branched panicles and produced in June and July. The flowers are followed by round seed capsules.
Flower colour: White, green
Flower shape: Star-shaped flowers in panicles
Flowering time: June, July
Foliage:
Large, grey-green to mid-green, pleated leaves are oblong to Elliptic in shape. The leaves are Alternately arranged on hollow, upright stems.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Oblong to elliptic
Poison Information:
All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, particularly the rhizomes.
Propagation:
Division, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture retentive soil that is well drained. Protect the leaves from slugs and snails.