Helleborus 2014

[ian mcenery]

That's a beauty Ian.

Thanks Ashley I like the hybrids but I think  the species have a quiet elegance

[Thorkild Godsk]

Helleborus.
Helleborus multifidus subsp hercegovinus
It blooms now.
Thorkild.

[Chris Johnson]

Lovely plant and image Thorkild.

Chris

[Anne Repnow]

Helleborus x torquatus 'Schneeeule' (= Snowy Owl) - starting to bloom. Its colouring changes a little from year to year. I particularly like this hellebore because of its pretty delicate foliage which looks good throughout the season.

[David Nicholson]

Oh I do like that one, very pretty.

[Anne Repnow]

Thank you, David!
Here is a photo (from last year) of the leaves.  I'm no expert but apparently a lot of the torquatus hybrids have these finely cut leaves.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Some hellebores enjoying a rare spell of sunshine today: Helleborus x hybridus 'Cherry Blossom', Helleborus 'Anna's Red', Helleborus x hybridus 'Emerald Queen'

[Tim Ingram]

This is a little group of diffferent forms of Helleborus torquatus in the garden. I could wish these grew better, but on the whole they are finicky plants, not increasing or flowering that well, despite being very interesting. It would be nice to work harder on growing and maintaining different forms of this species in the garden, but I need the advice of Robin and Sue White from whom the two lovely forms on the right have come. It would be valuable to know how other gardeners get on with this species?

[Anne Repnow]

I do not cultivate the species, so my experience may not be relevant. But for me the plant I photographed above works well. It is healthy, the flowers prolific. It sits in a shadey spot in deep loam. In the summer this spot is fairly (but not completely) dry. I had more problems with the very special orientalis-hybrids I bought. Few of those survived.

You might be interested in the following site, Tim:
http://shop.alpine-peters.de/helleborus/torquatus.html
All hybrids/selections - but then H. torquatus is very variable, isn't it?

[Tim Ingram]

Many thanks - an interesting website. The torquatus hybrids are like those from Blackthorn: 'Party Dress' and 'Wolverton' hybrids. On the whole these seem to have inherited less vigour as garden plants than x hybridus forms. But very few nurseries seem to grow the pure species which I am more drawn to and some of these, like your plant, also have beautifully cut foliage (eg: forms of multifidis).

The x hybridus forms now are quite spectacular, or sometimes a little more refined, like this example from Hadlow growing in our garden, but they so easily eclipse the species which does seem a shame to me.

[Anne Repnow]

That is beautiful indeed! I like the fine reddish pink lining to the petals.
But I agree with you - it is a shame that it is so difficult to get hold of the species.

[johnralphcarpenter]

But very few nurseries seem to grow the pure species which I am more drawn to and some of these, like your plant, also have beautifully cut foliage (eg: forms of multifidis).

Tom Mitchell is your man!

[johnralphcarpenter]

This is a little group of diffferent forms of Helleborus torquatus in the garden. I could wish these grew better, but on the whole they are finicky plants, not increasing or flowering that well, despite being very interesting. It would be nice to work harder on growing and maintaining different forms of this species in the garden, but I need the advice of Robin and Sue White from whom the two lovely forms on the right have come. It would be valuable to know how other gardeners get on with this species?

I find H. torquatus less vigorous than most. or perhaps they just need longer to establish. I have some just emerging and will take pictures when they open.

[johnralphcarpenter]

A few days good weather makes all the difference, and the hellebores are looking great. First some hybrids. 1. Helleborus x hybridus 'Kingston Cardinal'; 2. Helleborus x hybridus 'Mrs Betty Ranicar'; 3. Helleborus x sahinii 'Winter Bells; 4. Helleborus x nigercors ' Snow Love'; 5. Helleborus x nigercors 'Emma'.

[johnralphcarpenter]

More... 1. Helleborus x sternii 'Beatrice le Blanc Strain'; 2. Helleborus x ballardiae; 3. Helleborus x ballardiae 'Merlin'; 4. Helleborus 'Anna's Red'.