Re: Hellebores
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Hellebores
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 04:01:58 -0500
Well, Claire, in my climate, covering an evergreen plant with leaves
is an invitation to all sorts of rot as we often have warm wet spells
during winter. Consistent snow cover goes a long way toward
preserving foliage I understand...have never had it myself.
Normally, my hellebore foliage comes through unscathed, but this has
been a pretty rotten cold winter. H. foetidus even looks a bit worn
and some of the more exposed H. x hybridus look definitely ratty. I
did see, the other day, however, that their buds are starting to
color, so need to go remove that ratty foliage so the flowers show
nicely.
As far as 'clay busting'...don't know as I've ever heard that one
applied to hellebores, but considering the massive root systems that
hellebores have, maybe there is some truth in it.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Claire Peplowski <ECPep@AOL.COM>
> Marge and Gerry,
>
> That we should have such a choice! Here all hellebores are under
leaves
> which are under 12 inches of snow. Last night was around - 0 -.
When they
> finally appear and the snow finally disappears they always look
pretty good.
> Now since we are waaaaaay colder than you guys and we can preserve
the green
> state all winter, I humbly suggest that you cover these plants with
leaves
> and something to keep them completely surrounded and keep them from
winter
> rain. They do not seem to mind any amount of cold but suffer from
wind and
> winter precip.
>
> Hellebores (orientalis) left uncovered and in the open garden look
so bad in
> the spring that the flowers seem to appear from under a rock.
>
> Does anyone (still looking for an answer) have a comment on
hellebores being
> "clay busting" plants. (Quote from Jackson and Perkins catalog).
>
> Claire Peplowski
> NYS z4
