Helleborus 2015

[johnw]

Friend was advised yesterday she won a bronze in the International/Commonwealth Marmalade section at Dalemain!

[johnw]

Does anyonew recall the cross involved in Anna's Red?

johnw - just dug out.................

[Brian Ellis]

I know it doesn't give precise details but here is the story John if it's of any use

http://www.independent.co.uk/property/gardening/deep-purple-there-are-hellebores--and-then-there-are-rodney-daveys-hellebores-6940785.html

[johnw]

Thanks Brian, very interesting.  I wonder if xericsmithii is involved, if so it may be too tender for here.  I am hoping it is at least 50% xhybridus to assure some winter hardiness.  Philip McD emailed it's on sale at Rona Building Supplies in Vancouver for £6!  I'd better give him a buy order.

johnw - 10" of snow yesterday, clear here now but the Confederation Bridge and many major northern roads are closed. Plows have pulled off the roads well north of here.

[Maggi Young]

Have seen 'Anna's Red' described as being derived from crossing  involving Helleborus lividus, Helleborus niger, and Helleborus x hybridus together. 
Whatever - at  £6 worth a try!

[Roma]

This one was grown from Ashwood seed a few years ago and has been struggling in a pot but I've got it planted out now

[Maggi Young]

That's a cracker, Roma. Love the markings - and it seems to be facing outwards too, which is a big "plus".

[johnw]

Thanks Maggi.  My that is a shiner Roma!

john

[Jeffnz]

The leaf marbling on Anna's Red can only have come from a plant with some lividus in the gene pool, there are rumours of a fertile ericsmithii as one of the parents. For obvious reasons we may never know, one thing for sure no seed set on Anna by open pollination. The plant flowers late here and most niger or sternii pollen long since gone.

[Hoy]

You have some nice plants, folks!

Here are 3 of mine. Seedlings of unknown parents.

[johnw]

Thanks Jeff.  I guess 50% xhybridus is sufficient to get it through our winters.

john

[PeterClegg]

This one was grown from Ashwood seed a few years ago and has been struggling in a pot but I've got it planted out now

Roma which seed selection did this come from ?, very attractive indeed.

[Roma]

It was Apricot/Peach shades.   I think I got about a dozen plants from 15 seeds.  I potted them up meaning to keep the best and take the others to plant sales but it didn't happen and they got a bit neglected.  I've got the survivors planted out now.

[PeterClegg]

has anyone seen stamens this colour before on helleborus niger ?

[Leena]

It was Apricot/Peach shades. 

Roma, I like that, also. I have some Ashwood Apricot/Peach hellebores going to flower for the first time this year, I hope some of them will turn out as lovely as yours.

This is Ashwood Yellow in bud last week, I have covered it now to protect from the cold (it is still under zero after a very cold night), and I hope it will flower nicely later.