Pollinator plant

Stinking hellebore

Helleborus foetidus

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Common names

32 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bear's Foot[1]
  • Bearsfoot Hellebore[1]
  • Dungwort[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (22)
Dutch
French
Asturian
Basque
  • Otsobaba arra[4]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 臭铁筷子[4]
Czech
  • čemeřice smrdutá[4]
Danish
  • Stinkende nyserod[4]
Finnish
  • haisujouluruusu[4]
Galician
  • Herba do gando[4]
German
Hungarian
  • Büdös hunyor[4]
  • Télizöld hunyor[4]
Italian
Japanese
  • キダチフユボタン[4]
Polish
  • ciemiernik cuchnący[4]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Морозник вонючий[4]
Slovak
  • čemerica smradľavá[4]
Slovenian
  • smrdljivi teloh[4]
Spanish
Swedish
  • klockjulros[4]
Welsh
  • Crafanc-yr-arth ddrewllyd[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Helleborus foetidus — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Stinking Hellebore — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Bear's Foot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Bearsfoot Hellebore — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Dungwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Ox Heel — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Setterwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Stinkwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Helleborus foetidus.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • stinking hellebore — Page 2, column 2, row top 307 pt; common-name cell after Helleborus foetidus.; Helleborus foetidus.
[3] Helleborus foetidus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Stinking hellebore — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Stinkende Nieswurz — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Setterwort — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Eléboro fétido — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Hellébore fétide — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Elleboro puzzolente — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Stinkend nieskruid — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Erva-Besteira — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Heléboro-Fétido — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
[4] Helleborus foetidus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Stinking hellebore — results[28].names[2]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Stinkende Nieswurz — results[28].names[4]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Setterwort — results[28].names[3]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Eléboro fétido — results[28].names[8]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Hellébore fétide — results[28].names[6]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Elleboro puzzolente — results[28].names[7]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Stinkend nieskruid — results[28].names[1]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Erva-Besteira — results[28].names[14]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Heléboro-Fétido — results[28].names[15]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Marxívol — results[28].names[5]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • čemeřice smrdutá — results[28].names[9]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Морозник вонючий — results[28].names[10]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • meixacán — results[28].names[11]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Télizöld hunyor — results[28].names[12]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Büdös hunyor — results[28].names[13]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • キダチフユボタン — results[28].names[16]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • klockjulros — results[28].names[17]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Stinkende nyserod — results[28].names[18]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Herba do gando — results[28].names[19]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Lhabeira — results[28].names[20]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • smrdljivi teloh — results[28].names[21]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • 臭铁筷子 — results[28].names[22]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Crafanc-yr-arth ddrewllyd — results[28].names[23]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • haisujouluruusu — results[28].names[24]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • čemerica smradľavá — results[28].names[25]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • ciemiernik cuchnący — results[28].names[26]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
  • Otsobaba arra — results[28].names[27]; taxon id 55827; Helleborus foetidus.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Helleborus foetidus is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Ranunculaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Winter

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Western Europe to Central Germany, Southern Italy, North Morocco

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Helleborus foetidus in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from January to May.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Helleborus foetidus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 341024; ID 3KF9N; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 341024; ID 3KF9N; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Helleborus foetidus — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Helleborus foetidus (top 307 pt)

    Source checked on .