Re: hellebore seeds

Marge,
        As a follow up to the discussion on Hellebores (see below), thought I'd
share what a long time Hellebore Nursery owner said about these 2 when we
visited the nursery (Honeyhill Farm) last Sunday.
        You are indeed right, they can take full sun (at least here in the PNW) and
do quite well.  They do get big and floppy and decline after a few years.
Her advice was to cut them back hard after flowering to try to rejuvenate
and if that fails yank them out and start over with young plants.  Since
both argutifolius and foetidus are prolific seeders, there are almost always
babies.  She recommends if you want to move either species, to cut them back
after flowering and move while it is still cool so they will grow new roots
if kept well watered.
        I have elected to start over with new plants in the same location when they
are finished flowering.  I purchased a double pink with freckles and a
sternii x argutifolius with beautiful red stems and ivory inside/red tinged
outside flowers after taking the tour.  A heavenly visit!

Marilyn Dube'
Natural Designs Nursery
Portland, Oregon


-----Original Message-----
From:   PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of
Marge Talt
Sent:   Sunday, February 02, 2003 9:57 PM
To:     shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject:        Re: [SG] hellebore seeds

Well, Marilyn, both those species seem to want more sun in my garden
than the x hybridus types (orientalis)....but, if you need to move
them, it is best done in early autumn when they start making new
roots.

Hellebores bloom, then put out new foliage and then rest a bit  while
they are thinking about making flower buds for the next year and then
grow new roots in late summer/early autumn.  They don't do a lot of
root growing in the early part of the year.

They can be moved at other times, but, according to Graham Birkin,
that's the best time from their standpoint.  He does dig and divide
for spring sales as well, and the plants survive and grow on fine,
but, from the hellebore's point of view....

Both H. argutifolius and H. foetidus are caulescent types and don't
seem to make the huge root systems of the acaulescent species, so
seem to me to be a bit easier to move.

If you want to move them earlier than autumn, then I'd wait until
after bloom when you see signs of new stem growth so you can cut back
the old stems.  This would make it easier for them to stand up after
moving...those old stems can be heavy.  Try to get as big a rootball
as you can and replant immediately...should do fine.  Tho' both of
these can tolerate dry spots, I'd make sure they were well watered
after their move and didn't dry out through the rest of the growing
season.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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----------
> From: Marilyn Dube <mygarden@EASYSTREET.COM>
>
> Marge and All,
>         Have been following the Hellebore seeds discussion with
interest.  I found
> "volunteer" seedlings for the first time this winter when I cut
away last
> years leaves so the flowers show better.  They were under 3 clumps
of  H.
> orientalis - white, darkest purple & mauve.  They were big enough
to dig and
> pot up into 4" pots and then went right back outside.  It will be
fun to see
> what colors they turn out to be when they bloom as they could be
any
> combination of colors from the bees doing their job.
>         What I would like to know is if anyone on this list has had
experience
> moving well-established clump(s) of Hellebores?  I have a large
clump of H.
> argutefolius and a large clump of H. foetidus that get hot west
facing sun
> all summer and need to be re-located.  I would assume they could be
moved
> after they bloom but before it gets hot?  Probably this will set
them back
> as far as blooming goes for a year or two.  Any advice would be
appreciated.
>
> Marilyn Dube'
> Natural Designs Nursery
> Portland, Oregon
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