Re: Helleborus -request

	A note about growing hellebores from seed:  the seed does not usually
survive dry storage beyond a few weeks.  In general, don't bother with
commercial seed, or stored seed from garden exchanges that's distributed
in mid-winter. That's especially true for the stemless species
[H.orientalis=hybridus; H.niger] and less so for such as H.foetidus

	You might find someone willing to send you seed when it's ripe
early next summer.  That seed could be stored in the fridge inslightly
moist peat or vermiculite, and sown outdoors when the rains come.

	Better, is to watch for hellebores growing in gardens in your
community: old gardens especially, these are both old-fashioned and
survivors. If you
see any, go ring the doorbell in early-to-mid spring, and ask to harvest
babies.  Invariably, there are clusters of little cotyledon-stage
seedlings under the parent. [Often by the hundreds -- these will die if
they're not harvested.] These can easily be dug and potted, and will
make nice little plants for planting out next fall, and bloom about a year
later.
	If you're a little shy for this, buy some nice plants in flower
[check out garden-club sals as well as garden centers], plant them and
start harvesting babies a year form now.  [If you're lucky, though, you'll
find babies in the pot!]

	A last-ditch if you have dry hellebore seed:  soak in warm water
with a drop of liquid dish soap for 2-3 days.  Change the water a couple
of times. Plant about 1/4 inch [5 mm] deep in small pots, and seal the
pots in poly bags. Put in warm place, up to 80 F [27 C] for up to 4 weeks.
I use the top of my hot-water furnace for "bottom heat", and it's worked 
a couple of times for H.corsicus, and H. Xsternii.] If
they haven't germinated after a month, they probably won't, and you may
as well discard them.

loren russell, corvallis, oregon

On Tue, 25 Jan 2000, Bob Shelby/Maura O'Neill wrote:

> ** Reply to note from Lorraine Hoag <grdnr4u@syix.com> Sat, 22 Jan 2000 06:14:49 -0800
> I have been wanting to grow Hellebores for years, and just haven't come
> across them,
> Lorraine or Gay, if you have some extra seed could I request some
> from you?
> pretty please?
> Maura
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