Shade Gardening: Favorite Hellebores?, 3 by Pistil

Pistil wrote:
I have several Hellebores.
Some general advice- the classic flowers dangle down, and the backsides are greenish, so not at all noticeable unless you lie on your back and look up. I picked some yellow ones that have yellow on both sides of the petals. I went to the nursery and picked those that I could see from a distance. Also I have them sited so I look up at them coming up the driveway! These are very very very nice. Some other Hellebores I have just for the foliage.

Helleborus Winter Jewels 'Golden Sunrise' is the yellow one, a seed strain, some have more red than others so I recommend buying them while in flower to pick your favorites. Super hardy in dry shade, the flowers stay on until summer!

Helleborus 'Blackthorn Group' leaves of mine seems to be like H argutifolius , flowers dusky purple, I look at them because I am desperate to see flowers that time of year, but they are not much. However, I LOVE the leaves 12 months a year, and it survives in a terribly dry situation and never complains.

Helleborus niger 'Jacob' is a white one, heavily marketed. I tried three times, it is not very hardy for me. One has survived, always flattened and eaten by slugs, both leaves and flowers. Also it exhibits a common problem with Hellebores, in cold weather the flowers are green not white. And guess what, it's always cold when they flower. I guess they grow them in a warm greenhouse to make them pure white. I felt ripped off.

Helleborus Spring Promise 'Elly' a double pink, is really nice. I have them on a little rock wall so they can be seen up close without bending over. Survived hedge removal, spent the summer in the sun with little water, they look fine!

Helleborus Gold Collection 'Snow Fever' fabulous white mottled leaves, very tough and doing well, has purple stems and veins in cool weather to place next to raspberry colored flowers in spring. One of my mostest favorite foliage plants.

Helleborus lividus 'White Marble' I planted this spring, for the white marbled foliage, it is doing well.

#1 'Snow Fever'
#2 "Golden Sunrise'
#3 'Elly'
#4 'Jacob' looking ratty, as always
#5 'Blackthorn Group' It's the leaves I like.


This message was edited Aug 11, 2015 10:28 AM