Helleborus Species, Corsican Hellebore, Corsican Rose, Holly-Leaved Hellebore

I grew this plant from seed,it was the first hellebore I had ever grown from seed, it easily germinated (with patience and proper cultur...Read Moree I got over 90% on year old seeds) and these became amazing hardy little seedlings, grown in zone 3, no protection their first winter other than from the micro climate in the garden forest they were growing in and six feet of snow from September till late May. It blew me away with its amazing hardiness and growth, 100% survival rate with 70% flowering in their second year from seed! Their second winter had only 1 ft of snow, very unusual in these parts, but out of 9 plants. I only lost one. Helleborus argutifolius grown from seed grows much better in my garden than an established nursery grown H. argutifolius, other species and H x hybrid plants that have been nursery grown and bought. For some insane reason all of these plants have died after their first winter. Every winter for the last three I have spent a fortune on a few of these beauties, from H. niger ( a $$$ variegated form) which is supposed to be the hardiest and perfect for my zone, to H x hybrid Lady series, all colors, Betty Ranicar when it cost a small fortune for a tiny division, to the species H. torquatus. (H. torquartus survived one winter, flowered and died, ) These were all big beautiful flowering size many budded plants,they thrived in my soil all spring, summer and fall and every year I would try them, I couldn't resist resist. One year next to them I planted my year old seedlings of a supposed less hardy species, H. argutifolius, and mother nature decided Helleborus argutifolius the winner!. I finally got it!! Now I try all helleborus I can from seed, the Lady series, Gold Bullion, Janet Starnes, and all the species I can get my hands on, with each there have been many successes and way fewer failures (although failures never stop, it is an important part of growing!). Now growing Helleborus from seed, I have gone from a 0% success rate with 3 year and older hellebore plants started and grown elsewhere (usually by division) transplanted to my garden to over 70% on plants from seed started in my garden. Long story, a little off topic, sorry, but it really is an amazing plant for me! Other than the success I have had growing from seed, it has many wonderful attributes. A long season of interest, beautiful long lasting flowers popping out of melting snow, mostly evergreen leaves with serrate edges and of a wonderful thick texture, all spring, summer and fall long. Depending on your winters, it either disappears under the snow, or continues providing interest with it's leaves, and in warmer winter areas, it will bloom in late winter / early spring Jan to March (for me that is late May). Deer hate it, no serious pests, all it needs is a little spring clean up of tattered leaves, last years flowers (that's if you didn't collect the seed or deadhead) and depending on placement, appropriate fertilizer. I give mine bone meal in early spring, usually on my beds still covered with snow and later on a little bit of blood meal and muriate of potash after flowering. They also get the natural leaf litter from my shrubs and my trembling aspen woodland colony beside woodland beds. This is a plant that deserves a place in every part shade or woodland garden.

This plant is so hardy it blooms as soon as it works it's way out of the snow in the spring and maintains the blossoms until the snow cov...Read Moreers them in the winter. Very tough and leathery leaves. A great asset to any perennial garden.

This easy-to-care-for plant has thrived in sun or shade, taken transplanting in stride and thumbed its nose at our voracious neighborhood...Read More deer. (Nary a nibble.) The pale green blooms light up shady spots through the winter and spring, and the sawtoothed foliage looks great year-round.

WARNING. Do NOT allow any sap from Argutifolius to come into contact with the skin as it can produce a severe allergic reaction. This ha...Read Moreppened to my wife whilst dead-heading the plants.

This plant looks like a delicate seedling, but is tough as nails. I planted out some seedlings early last summer, and thought for sure I...Read More'd kill them (their stems seem so delicate, but are just good and wiry.)

The plants have grown tremendously since being planted out, and are close to a foot tall already.