Hellebores

My dad has four massive clumps of hellebores (the christmas rose type) with beautiful pinky flowers. When they've finished flowering he's going to dig up some clumps for me. But apart from at this time of year when they are bushy and in full bloom, I don't know what they do at other times of the year.

I have an empty bed (currrently full of celendines!) which I can put them in, it is in shade only getting sun at the very end of the day, but to help me know what to plant with it etc, can anyone tell me what they do during the rest of the year? For example if they die off, and when.

Any help appreciated!

 

better to leave the splitting until the autumn imho.

Plants ae evergreen but advisable to cut back leaves once a year as they can get tatty. Good for ground cover in light shade

Would leave you time to get rid of those celandine

 

Also useful to collect and sow the seeds fresh (if they produce any that is).

 

Thanks chaps. The trouble is that my dad is moving house shortly and it's working out rather well for me because I'm getting loads of his plants! So the moving will have to be done very soon.

I'd like to create a fuschia bed with some rudbeckia varieties at the back, and the hellebores along the front. That would be quite a care free bed wouldn't it, apart from the weeding??

 

hellebores between the fuschias as they need the shade

 

Would it be possible to have the helebores making ground cover of the whole bed then - and fuschias growing through?

 

If your dad is moving and you have got to dig them up, try to dig round them so you get a good soil clump. So you do not disturb the roots,make sure the soil is moist and you might get a nice lump, and drop them into a larger hole and fill round.

You might be advised to drop them in a large tub for transporting.

 

Water well before digging them out too!

 

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Hi Victoria,

I grow lots of various coloured hellebores, all of which are grown in full sun, both at home and on my alotment without any problems!

They are as tough as old boots, I have just divided some nice coloured one and potted them on. Doing so now, gives them time to make new roots and grow stronger before the winter sets in ( and we have not finished with this one yet).

The following site gives cultural advice, being American is says you can divide both Spring and Fall, but it is worth a read.
www.hellebores.org

Grown from seed takes 2 to 3 years to flower and about 3 to 4 years to make a decent sized plant, and most of the plants are not worth keeping as the flowers usually are poor colours compared to the parent plants.

Hope this helps!

 

Standard practice is to divide and replant whilst in flower or immediately afterwards rather than autumn.
Nows the time to beg a piece from friends if they have an interesting variety!