Helleborus niger, the Christmas or Lenten Rose, is an evergreen perennial plant which thrives in partial to full shade, and flowers, as the name suggests at or sometimes a little after Christmas. The foliage is dark green, slightly glossy and leathery, with large white blooms with yellow stamens which emerge as the weather cools to lighten the winter's gloom. Unlike many hellebores the flowers on Helleborus niger actually face outward, not downwards. Not suited to either very dry, or soaking wet conditions this plant is unfussy in most other regards, with good pest and disease resistance, and will thrive in any reasonably moist but well drained garden conditions, in an alkaline soil. Grows 20 to 30cm high and 30 to 45cm wide.