Thx for the photos.
Gradational hellebore growers may see Cleopatra and hybrids there of as not being an acceptable move. I disagree, the same my be said for hellebore flowers that are round in shape and doubles, all a part of a change in breeding and seeing the opportunity to create something that is unique. Japanese hellebore breeders have created some truly outstanding new hellebores, particularly doubles. Unfortunately many of their off spring are not available outside of Japan, unless of course the likes of Peter goes to the trouble of visiting nurseries and bringing selected plants back to his nursery for subsequent breeding.
The double black is outstanding, for shape and colour, sorry but it is not really black just an intense purple. With my hellebores the reduction in cold winters has seen dark colours become less intense. We rarely get snow but used to have quite hard frosts over winter, the latter are not so hard or frequent as in the past, more is the pity
