Veratrum alba - White False Hellebore

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Liliales - Family: Melanthiaceae

It has taken us a long time to finally see and photograph this curious plant in flower. We first saw it in the far north of Russia in 2003, and we have seen not-in-flower specimens in many countries since then. The specimens shown here were found high in the mountains of Slovenia.

Description

The large, pleated oval leaves of this perennial plant are borne alternate up the stems. Plants can reach a height of 1.7 metres, but 80cm is more typical. The six-petalled flowers are typically 10 to 15mm across. Grazing animals tend to avoid this species - and just as well, because it is known to be a seriously poisonous plant.

Habitat

False White Hellebore (also known as False White Helleborine) grows in alpine meadows and on woodland edges. Although sometimes found in the open, most often these plants occur in at least partial shade.

Distribution

Not native to Britain or Ireland, Veratrum album occurs in most mainland countries of Northern and Central Europe and is also found across much of temperate Asia.

Etymology

Veratrum, the genus name, is the Latin word for a Hellebore. The specific epithet album means white - a reference to the colour of the flowers (although the green markings on the flowers of V. album subsp. lobelianum shown here give the flowers an overall light-green appearance).

Blooming times

The flowers of Veratrum album can be seen from late May to July. The plants shown on this page were photographed in alpine meadows in the Triglav National Park in Slovenia in early June 2025.

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