Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Large, bowl-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters in late winter or spring
H. argutifolius is an evergreen perennial to 1m with stout stems bearing leaves composed of three spiny-toothed dark green leaflets. Bowl-shaped, nodding, pale green flowers 4-5cm in width are borne in large open clusters