The hellebores that I planted last year and the year before didn't fair too well. The leaves are turning brown. Shouldn't this be the time of the year where they should be flowering? I planted them 3-6 feet out from a pear tree? Any ideas of what could possibly be the problem?
hellebore leaves are brown
This time of year the foliage looks terrible and can be cut all the way back. The flowers will be out soon, followed by the new foliage. It's all quite normal.
... and my lavender is grey ...
o wait, not the Mamas & the Papas sing along thread? sigh.
thanks, I was worried there for a minute(or 2)
Victor - I can cut all the foliage off my hellebores?
Last year's foliage - yes. It's probably all mushy now. If there is some that still looks good, you might want to leave it for now.
Here's mine this AM. New flowers are getting ready.
Here's a 'stinking hellebore'.
That one even looks like it stinks.
Jen, as Victor said, go ahead and cut the leaves back. Hellebores are semi evergreen here, they try, but don't quite make the evergreen, so every year the leaves need to be cut back.
Cute, Amy!
Whew - i'm so relieved someone was amused!!!
♫
Hellebore leaves are brown
My lavender is grey
Looking at my yard
On a winter's day
I'd be seeing blooms
If i was in LA
I've been zone 10 dreamin'
Here in zone 6a.
♫
Maybe, but I prefer snow flakes to LA flakes!
I love it!
Cute Amy very cute! How come they don't write songs like that any more? :)
Good one Victor!
Great song.
Why did I think that the hellebores are evergreen not semi??
They may be for some, Jen.
Perennials that are truly evergreen sport a relatively uniform appearance throughout the year, while those described as “semi-evergreen” maintain their color and form with little deterioration well into January or beyond.
Hellebores here deteriorate after the beginning of winter. So, I would call them semi evergreen in Northern states. David Culp, a hellebore hybridizer who lives further south than we do calls them 'basically evergreen'. Some hellebores aren't even hardy here.
Anyone interested in a hellebore forum, please voice your opinion:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/817015/
this will be my 4th year with my hellebores... hasn't bloomed yet... hope this year will be it
I don't know if we need another forum, I don't have enough time as it is to look at all the ones I'm on now.
They can be slow, Allison. Jen, I think there are too many forums already, but I wanted to support the people who proposed it.