Helleborus 2018

[fermi de Sousa]

Last pics from Peter Leigh's Post Office Farm Nursery:
1) single black H. x hybridus stock plants
2) single yellow H. x hybridus stock plants
Peter seems to have "cracked the code" in regard to the breeding of the "new generation" of hybrids such as "Anna's Red" and "Penny's Pink"
3) H. x belcheri x H. hybridus
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Even the stock plants must need repotting quite regularly, though, don't you think?

Terrific to see the range  available - especially when  new introductions are tough for Australia.

[rob krejzl]

Fermi,

Thanks very much for this. Not only wonderful pictures, but I got several of my unspoken questions answered.

[Leena]

Ferni, so many beautiful Hellebores!

In summer 2015 I sowed seeds of 'Onyx Odyssey', and now first of them is flowering. Out of season, but I hope some others from that sowing will flower next spring.

[Carolyn]

1) Stock plant with tags - flowers which are hand pollinated get tagged so they know which seeds to bag

cheers
fermi

Fermi,
Do they not place a net bag over the hand-pollinated flowers to prevent insects from visiting and doing further unwanted pollination?

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Carolyn,
Peter said that they wait until the pods are starting to ripen and then use gauze bags to catch the seeds. The earliest ones already had bags on them
cheers
fermi

[Jeffnz]

Fermi
Had Peter n made the belcheri x hybridus using double hybridus?

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Jeff,
I don't think so; they all appeared single if I've remembered correctly
cheers
fermi

[Gabriela]

Beautiful Helleborus Fermi! and Leena - what a nice surprise
I love how fast the hybrids start to bloom, comparing with the species.

[Roma]

Helleborus niger

[Maggi Young]

Looks like your  wee hellebore  set its clocks to  the wrong time, Roma!

[Roma]

This one always flowers well before Christmas.  It was in the garden before we moved in.  I think it may have been here in my grandparents' time. 

[Maggi Young]

That may be the  answer, Roma -  an Aunt of mine has some  cracking  Helleborus niger that have been in her garden "forever" - I think some of these old cultivars  have really great genes!

[ashley]

Helleborus cyclophyllus 
a collection by Marcus Harvey

[Leena]

That is a nice green Helleborus, Ashley.
Is it always this early or is it maybe due to weather conditions?