Hellebores are also known as Lenten Roses or Christmas Roses (though they are not roses at all). They are so named because they naturally bloom in the winter (no forcing needed), although up until recently they were generally considered to be an outside-only plant.
I have always suspected that these plants haven't been as popular as you might expect (given their beauty and interest) because they bloom at such an odd time. The dead of winter is just not when most people spend a lot of time looking at the pretty flowers. But there they are — plant them next to a window where that can be observed from the warmth of your home and you can enjoy how they are un-deterred by snow and frost.
My own indoor Hellebore arrived as a gift from Skagit Gardens right before the holidays. I have been enjoying - and instagramming it — like crazy as it has continued to bloom.
I am beginning to suspect it may need something from me that I am not giving it, like fertilizer, as the leaves have changed in color from the dark green that they were originally to a lighter, more sickly green. So they are not without the need for a little TLC to keep them at their best through these dark months. But the exciting part is, unlike the other holiday plants, which often end up in the bin when they have stopped blooming, the Hellebore will be quite happy to move into your garden come spring. Mine will be joining the others (who have not yet bloomed) on the other side of the kitchen window glass if I can keep it alive until March.
(Images: Rochelle Greayer)
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Helleborus niger is lovely and is being sold as an "indoor" plant these days, but alas, it's really not suited for growing indoors for any long period of time. For brief periods, they can be brought indoors, if you make an effort to keep them cool, but they won't thrive (and no amount of fertilizer will change that). The new cultivars still aren't suited for being proper houseplants, but that doesn't stop them from being marketed as such. Sadly, not the ideal time to plant them in the ground in most climates, but it can likely hold out for when the ground is softer again.
It is important to know that hellebores can cause skin irritation, so be careful if you are touching it.
I hate the trend of turning outdoor plants into "indoor" plants, mainly because it makes my mother in law call me asking why her potted hydrangea is not doing so well, in a north facing window, by a radiator, in northern New Hampshire. Plants have cycles and needs, just because they're transportable when in pots doesn't make them suited for growing indoors. It just causes a lot of frustration for consumers and a lot of wasted money.
Sometimes they hang on until it's time to plant them outside, true, but, like you said, they need something you're not giving them: the outdoors.
Also, they're poisonous, so watch out for kids and pets.
Hellebores do tend to have a problem with their leaves. Some gardeners cut them when they flower. This is outside though - as the others say, I'm not sure hellebores are suited for inside unless you have the right situation.
Most of the winter plants are toxic to nibbling pets. Note that poinsettia is NOT especially toxic.
For relentless plant-eating critters, stick with orchids, ferns or conifers. For my cat, putting Amaryllis on top of a six-foot bookcase was perceived as an interesting challenging to fill the time while I was away. Fortunately, she merely knocked it off.
I picked up a hellebore from Trader Joes before the holidays. It is still blooming and quite beautiful. I up-potted it after Christmas when I noticed the leaves were turning yellow, and also moved it to a sunnier location where it seems to be doing well. It will probably need fertilizer before spring arrives, as most plants do when overwintering indoors.
Hellebores are blooming like crazy here in coastal California. What it's missing is the cooler outdoor environs. Most have aphids right now so keep a head's up for those critters to appear. Be sure to keep the foliage dry as Hellebores are subject to a fungus called botrytis. It's most likely looking forward to be moved out to the garden come Spring. In the meantime, enjoy the blooms.