Re: Any hellebore experts out there?

Nan:

I LOVE hellebores.  I never personally grew them in
California, though (plenty in IL, SC, and PA).

I've seen them in lots of gardens here, almost all in
Northern California.  They kind of remind me of Daphne
-- the farther south one goes, the less likely they
are to survive for long.

The best I've seen for So. Cal. are three
Mediterranean species: H. argutifolius (formerly H.
corsicus), H. lividus, and H. foetidus.  But even
these are not automatically successful.  Sunset says
H. argutifolius is "the best for So. Cal" but I (and
others) think H. lividus lasts longer.

H. lividus has the best flowers of the three but none
of these three species are truly attractive in flower
compared to the familiar "Lenten Rose" and "Christmas
Rose" -- unless you like green flowers.

Sunset even says H. orientalis grows in "Zones 14-24"
but I've never seen them south of, say, SLO.  I have a
feeling they are part of the confusion with the
hybrids available (many).

Almost all species are salt sensitive -- resulting in
tip burn, especially those with shiny green foliage,
and they look really bad by end of summer.  As you can
imagine, in San Diego, where the water is fit for
salt-water fish, Hellebores really struggle.  This is
worst with the non-Med species and hybrids.

And the Medit. ones damp off or collapse from
Phytophthora in summer where they get supplemental
watering.

I've seen them at their best when they are treated as
Azaleas -- woodland conditions (acid, woodsy soil,
shade, etc.).  Even then, don't expect long-term
success.

Where I've seen Hellebores at their best is in upland
South Carolina, where the water is pure and the soils
are acid and deep.  But that has nothing to do with
us, right?

I think somebody needs to look harder at the MANY new
hybrids now available.  (I actually think hybrids have
been around for much longer then we think -- only
they've been sold under the wrong names.)  

There's a nice H. lividus x H. niger hybrid called
'December Dawn'.  There's a H. argutifolius x H. niger
hybrid named 'Alabaster'.  And there's plenty of
hybrids of H. argutifolius x H. lividus, which I think
might prove to be the best for So. Cal.  Included
among the latter are 'Blackthorn' and 'Bouoghton
Beauty'.  By the way, these are all technically
"strains" (not cultivars); there's some variation
within the named type.

Let me know what else you find.

Joe Seals
Santa Maria, CA

--- Nan Sterman <nsterman@plantsoup.com> wrote:
> Anyone a hellebore expert on our list?  Or even a
> hellebore lover?
> 
> Nan
> -- 
> **********
> '''''''''''''''''''''''
> Nan Sterman
> San Diego County California
> Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11
> 


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