Hellebore

[Palustris]

This is flowering now, rather dirty as it was covered in leaf mould. Labelled H. dumetorum, but as it is leafless and the wrong colour I think not. Any ideas?

[Afloden]

Looks like thibetanus.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Certainly not H. dumetorum, could be H thibetanus.

[Palustris]

Interesting. We have H. thibetana on the other side of the garden in a couple of places, but do not remember planting it there. The label with it is the one which came with it. Not sure who sold it now, but it was at an AGS show.
Thank-you.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Could be a hybrid. What else did you plant? Did you plant 'Walberton's Rosemary'?

[Palustris]

No, never bought any of the Walberton plants, at least not deliberately.
Could be that it was just misnamed by the seller, it happens! Not complaining, it is rather nice. Would like to have the true H. dumetorum though.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Try Evolution Plants.

[Palustris]

I have a feeling that this came from Evolution Plants. It may well be that the label has been moved from the proper plant by whatever it is which steals all our labels and moves them around. There is no sign though of H dumetorum in that area of the garden. Ah well. Caerleon here we come.

[Tim Murphy]

If your plant came from Evolution Plants, you have a plant with provenance, which means you have an authentic example of Helleborus purpurascens.

[Palustris]

Now that is a distinct possibility. I do hope it is.  I certainly have bought that species from Evolution Plants and it was planted in that part of the garden. As I said, we have something which redistributes labels, even to the extent of us finding one of them a mile down our lane! It could well be that this is such a case.
I will have to wait and see if the leaves when they appear are hairy underneath!
Thank-you all for your replies.