One of the plug-plants was very weak right from the start and didn't survive, but I planted the others out during the Spring, in the border which hosts my Dogwoods and the Cotinus:
My research has told me that Hellebores tolerate shade during the Summer and bloom at a time when most other plants have few leaves, so I am hoping I have chosen a suitable spot. As you can see, they are currently well insulated by a layer of fallen leaves. Should those leaves remain where they are, or should I remove them? What do you think?
Most of the plants now have some significant new growth, which I am hoping will include flower buds.
As well as the original six plug-plants I also have some Hellebores from different sources. One is a rather larger plant which I bought in a Garden Centre. At the time it had a flower bud on it which looked as if it would open very soon. Unfortunately it never did. It just sat there doing nothing for weeks and weeks and eventually died back. This year the plant is well-established and will hopefully do better.
It definitely has a flower bud emerging, which with a bit of luck will actually open this time!
My third source of Hellebores has been some seeds sent to me by fellow blogger Elaine. After an extensive period of vernalisation a couple of them finally germinated and got established. They are now at about the same size as the plug-plants were when I got them.
Since they are still very tiny I have protected them with some sticks, to deter the cats / foxes / badgers from digging them up (vain hope!)
I really do hope the Hellebores do well (eventually), because a bit of colour in the garden during Winter would be most welcome. If they do flower you may rest assured that I will write about them again!
They look quite well. I am eager to see the colour of the flowers, it seems red to me. Leave the plant to bear seeds and you'll have plenty of seedlings in Spring. I do and was surprised how many of them germinated.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though you should definitely have flowers this year. They're such lovely plants, flowering at a time when any colour is welcome in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI've just cut last year's leaves off out hellebores to make way for the new flowers, I too planted some new ones last year which are mixed on with the established ones so I'll only know from the colour of the flowers whether they flower this year or not. I hope you manage some flowers this year.
ReplyDeleteI will being cutting my hellebores back any time soon (well actually when I get my hedge trimmer mended! and if not with secateurs by the end of this month).
ReplyDeleteFor small plants like yours I am not sure, especially as they are so healthy and there is no need to cut any leaf spot fungus away or open up the plant to see the flowers. On balance My advice is not to cut them back this year but in 12months time next year!
I was looking at some larger specimens at a garden centre the other day, as you say the larger plants can be quite expensive.
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