moving hellebores

Indeed, Marilyn, mature hellebores do not like to be moved.  That's why
they are usually sold as containerized plants, often at a small size.  They
have long, cord-like roots and seem to resent it deeply if any are cut or
broken.  They cannot be propagated by cuttings, since the stems grow from
an underground crown.

You can try moving them, though.  Take a large soil ball with each plant
and water well until they look established.

Luckily they can be easily moved when small.  Check around for seedlings.
If the hellebores have been in the ground for any time at all, surely they
have sown seeds around (we have them coming up all through our woodland
garden).  Or, alternatively, gather seed this summer and scatter it around
at your new place.  Seedlings will appear next spring, and bloom in perhaps
3-4 years.

Hellebore seed needs warmth, then a cold spell, then more warmth to
germinate.  Old seed will sometimes need more than one of these cycles to
come up.

Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>
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