Collecting/sowing Helebore seeds.

Hi All,

I have Helebore Niger that I planted last autumn. The flower heads have now got big seed pods on them and I would like to save them and try to grow some of my own. As I have never done this before I have no idea how to do it.

1) When and how do I take the seeds? Do I just cut the flower head off?
2) When do I sow the seeds that I collect?

Thanks
Rusty

 

The pods will begin to split pretty soon and that is the time to take them off. Sow fresh as they germinate much better.

 

Hellebore seedling "crosses" can often be disappointing though ... I'd hate you to go to a lot of trouble, wait a couple of years until they flower, and then not like the result.

If you just want plenty of plants to fill an area under some trees you amy not mind, but if you want something a bit showy I think you might be better of with plants that have been vegetatively propagated.

Other people may have different views though?

 

Leave some seed pods on the plant though, remember to look under the plant next Feb and you'll probably find that nature's done it for you. I find far more than I could want every year and just dig them up and pot on when they have about 4 leaves

 

H. niger rarely crosses and even when it does the results are often worth having. H. x orientalis though may be a different matter. H. niger also can be had to flower in 2 years.

 

I did wonder, when I was typign, if I was maybe mixing those two up. Thanks Palustris

 

I collected seed from H.orientalis last spring and sowed them in trays and popped them under a shrub in a 'quiet' corner and pretty much forgot about them, just made sure every now and then they hadn't dried out. Then this spring (Feb/March) they more or less all germinated and then rather than pricking them out I tipped out the whole contents of the tray and carefully parted them and potted them up individually..

Here's the thread I posted about them;

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/hellebore-seedlings.41394/

 

Probably a silly question but do I just open the seed pods and sow them into compost?
Do I only need to dry seeds if I am going to store them?

Rusty

 

Gently squeeze the pods, if they open and the seeds are black then they are ripe enough to be sown. If they are still green then leave them for a little longer.
Drying the seeds is a bit of a waste of time, in that the germination rate drops considerably, even down to not at all.
I recommend doing as Bilbo did if you want more plants.

 

As Palustris said sow immediately, but they may not germinate for ages. Seems strange to me that chucked in the ground they will germinate in "ages", but carefully stored they lose all viability ... but there we are!