Variations of Helleborus niger.

Christrose, Christmas rose or black hellebore

Traced at the first garden exhibition 2011 - the Christmas rose and Easter exhibition at ...

 ... the castle of Burgellern near Bamberg, Upper Franconia.

Here's a red variant of Helleborus niger.

The spotted purple hybrid is my favourite...

...it looks lovely, but the species is poisonous.

Regardless of its colour.

So it's certainly not the favourite snack for the two castle donkeys.