Helleborus thibetanus leaf problem

[johnw]

We have had multiple disasters growing H. thibetanus.  The first two ChenYi plants we got were viral and had to be destroyed.  A subsequent ChenYi plant also became viral after a year, its behaviour was erratic - it would flush in the autumn and then collapse in the cool ghouse in early winter, it went to the bin.  Seeding produced no seedlings after many attempts. Another replacement plant from BC a few years back was viral on receipt.  More seedlings sprouted and collapsed.  Finally some seeds sprouted about 2 years ago and lived!  They were in a cold room under fluorescent lights for the past winter and were put outdoors a few weeks ago.  Now they look like this and we wonder is it sunburn or black death?  To me it looks like possible sunburn or cold shock, frankly I don't see the streaking associated with black death.  Ken wants to take no chances and is quite willing to toss them.

H. thibetanus looks good in a few gardens locally, no leaf problems and the only caveat is that it emerges perilously early though I;ve yet to see it frosted.

Thoughts?

The birds don't think highly of them either....

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Sorry John, I'm with Ken on this one.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Not black death - looks like fungal disease.

[Jeffnz]

The leaf markings are not characteristic of that seen when the plant is infected with the BD virus. I am suspicious of plants ex a China source as there have been reports of virus infested plants being imported across a range of species.
I was under the understanding that some countries have now placed a ban on importation of live plants from China due to plants being infected with possibly unknown viruses.
While the leaf markings are not classic BD markings, if I had the plants they would be burnt along with the potting mix. If you have other hellebore plants do any show the same leaf characteristics? If not then all the more need to destroy.

[johnw]

Thanks all.

Jeff no other Hellebores show similar symptoms, just these three thibetanus and it seems to have happened rather suddenly.   We'll isolate them and treat with a fungicide(s).

BTW the ChenYi thibetanus were imports back in the mid to late 90's and our replacements were propagations by a friend out west of those original viral thibs.  Haven't heard of any ChenYi imports since the initial one or two.  Our seed sources were the various seedexs so lineages would be impossible to trace back to the viral ones.

john

[Jeffnz]

I struggle to grow thibetanus to flowering, when I do manage to acquire seed I can achieve germination but over the next few seasons one by one the plants do not return. I agree that most of the thibetanus plants in circulation now are not sourced directly from China and so far, touch wood viral transmission via seed has not been reported.
As a standard practice I destroy any plants that show unusual foliage patterns as a precaution, paranoia oh yes very much so.