Hellebore varieties - suggestions please

Dovefromabove

Hi, I'm planting up a shady bank and it's time to think about some hellebores - has anyone any particular favourites they would recommend?

Dovefromabove

Hi, yes I drool over the Ashwood site - I particularly covet Ashwood Blushing Bride.  Personally I'm not so keen on the doubles; I love the simplicity of the single form and also there are so few nectar sources for bees at that time of year, and I understand that bees find the complexity of the doubles problematic, so I stick to the singles.  

pash

Hi dove, have a look at www.helleborus. de  i have "niger", which is part of the gold collection, it stays compact

pash

links not working, google it, it will give you some ideas i hope

Dovefromabove

Lovely site, thanks.  I particularly like Karina Green and Green Corsican 

pash

Your welcome,

Obelixx

Helleborus foetidissima has lime green flowers and cut leaves and was in flower from November to early March in my damp, shady bed.  In drier beds I have a range of hellebores from the simple cream flowers thorugh pinky purples to almost black flowers.  Labels long gone so no varieties to name.   I don't grow the double forms as the simple ones are a good source of nectar for early bees.

To keep them looking good, make sure you cut down old foliage in winter/early spring when the flowers start to open.  This removes old material that can harbour disease and also shows the flowers off better.  They can take a couple of seasons to settle in and flourish and dislike being moved but once established will provide a good, long lasting display followed by attractive foliage and they will also self seed.  Being promiscuous, you may get some very interesting as well as ordinary babies so it's worth potting some up to grow on and see what you get.

pash

http://www.helleborus.de/

just trying again

Dovefromabove

In my last garden I grew Helleborus Niger and various seedlings which flowered later and were paler and freckled (and there was a greeny one too).

As I've said, in this garden I have a shady bank, so I am looking forward to being able to see my hellebores from a better viewpoint