False hellebore is a native, erect, herbaceous perennial wildflower found in the mountains of NC. It is a member of the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). It grows in swamps, wet woods, meadows, forest or natural areas in moist woods and along stream banks. All parts of the plant are poisonous if large amounts are ingested. The nectar is likely toxic to honeybees. The leaves are broad and strap-like, clasping at the base and with conspicuous parallel veins. The flowers appear in panicles of small saucer-shaped yellow-green blooms. It needs shade to part shade and moist, rich soils. The plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
6 to 12-inch lance-shaped leaves end in a sharp point and are strongly ribbed with parallel veins. They clasp onto a stout, downy stem.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Numerous small, downy, yellow-green flowers on branching stem
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit splits into three sections at maturity to release the numerous flat seeds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AK , AL , CA , CT , DC , DE , GA , ID , MA , MD , ME , MN , MT , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WA , WV , WY Canada: NB , NL , NS , QC