Black Helleborine

Veratrum nigrum is a magnificent and rarely seen architectural perennial that provides a dramatic focal point in a shaded border. It is most famous for its stunning foliage: large, oval, deeply pleated leaves that are a vibrant green and provide tactile interest from spring onwards. In mid to late summer, it sends up a tall, branching flower spike, sometimes reaching 1.5 metres, covered in tiny, star-shaped flowers of a dark, almost black, chocolate-purple. The contrast between the lime-green foliage and the dark flowers is extraordinary. It is a slow-growing plant that requires patience, often taking several years to reach flowering size, but it is long-lived and fully hardy (H7) in the UK. It demands deep, fertile, moist soil and a position in partial shade. Gardeners should be aware that all parts of the plant are highly toxic and it is particularly attractive to slugs and snails, which can disfigure the broad leaves.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist, deep, fertile soil.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.