The World of Hellebores In February 2013, the Hardy Plant Society ran a study day – ‘Hurrah for Hellebores’. There were many complements about the day and about the depth of information that was covered. Particular mention was made of the handout and we are extremely grateful to Diana Guy…

Hellebore Breeders In recent years hellebores have been transformed: they have come a long way since all we had were single-flowered forms in white, pinks and reds with unpredictable spotting. Now we have singles in every shade (except true blue), including white, almost black, uniformly speckled or splashed with darker…

Propagating Hellebores By Seed Helleborus ‘Penny’s Pink’ You may like to try and hand pollinate your own hellebores by choosing two really good ones, perhaps a really nice form or one with excellent vigour and the other one with perhaps a good colour or special markings. Choose the mother plant…

Hellebores as Cut Flowers Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’ Hellebores are notoriously difficult to condition. Place the stems in about 5 cms boiling water for one minute to force out the air. Re-cut the stems and leave overnight up to their necks in water. Placing them directly into buckets of water containing…

Books on Hellebores As recommended by Diana Guy in 2013 Helleborus ‘Potter’s Wheel’ ‘The Gardener’s Guide to Hellebore Growing’by Graham Rice and Elizabeth StrangmanDavid and Charles ISBN 0 7153 9973 X ‘Hellebores’by Graham RiceRHS Wisley Handbooks ISBN 0 304 36287 5 ‘Hellebores, A Comprehensive Guide’by C Colston & J K…

Using Hellebores in a Variety of Garden Styles A Woodland Garden This may be a proper little patch of woodland or just a little group of three trees, or even the shade cast by one big specimen. You will probably have to prepare the soil thoroughly before planting, adding lots…