I am going to dig/divide 3 of my clumps of hellebores on Wednesday July 31 (weather permitting) and I will share divisions with someone for a good trade. I think I will have 3-4 divisions from each of my plants. I would love other kinds of hellebores (especially niger or foetida), or other shade-loving hardy perennials.
These are all x orientalis, all are about 8 years old. One has pinkish/purple with purple freckles, one has white fading to purple with dark freckles, one is dark purple with no visible markings.
If you haven't grown hellebores before, check into them: they bloom late winter through early summer, thrive in summer shade, need protection from winter wind, and survive for centuries. They quickly rot in very damp places, but need a year or two before they can withstand drought. They often take a few years to recover from being transplanted, so don't be too disappointed if they don't flower for a year or more. But gardening requires patience, anyways :)
E-mail me for more details.
Hellebore x orientalis for trade only!
you've got mail!
You have mail--I would esp. be interested in the first 2.
Lupinelover, hellebores aren't difficult to transplant it sounds, I have heard otherwise, I have some I am going to have to move, any special suggestions, Since they bloom when they do would they be considered fairly dormant now?
Have you ever grown alchemilla mollis? It likes shade. There are some nice primroses that do in the shade.
No, hellebores aren't difficult to transplant, as long as their needs are met. I just haven't done it before, so am a little nervous about dividing them. From what I have heard, they are like peonies and oriental poppies, and often take some time to recover their ordeal.
When I have bought new ones and planted them, the divisions take off immediately, and the seedlings also do, but of course the seedlings take 3-4 years before they flower. The clumps to be divided were purchased as year-old seedlings in '94. One clump has even had several babies. Sorry, all those are already spoken for :(
Crestdchik, MarciaGeiger and Lenjo, you have mail!
I would LOVE your dark hellebore, if you have any left. Would you like a variegated hosta or a fern?
Or maybe some "black" clover. Not really black, but chocolate-colored with a rim of mint green around the edges.
A very showy, and somewhat invasive ground cover. Sun or shade, not dry, any soil.
Kathleen, Evelyn, you have mail :)
This message was edited Monday, Jul 29th 1:35 PM
OK, everyone, all the divisions are spoken for, I tried to grant as many as I could; if there are any extras, whoever I get in the secret swap probably will get one (along with some other very special things :)
OK, today I sent divisions to Kathleen and Karen (crestedchik). I am still waiting for Evelyn's address, and Marcia asked me to wait until fall to send hers, so I have the rest potted up.
Kathleen, you were right; it wasn't hard to divide them. I used a very sharp knife and cut the crown into pieces. For those unfamiliar with the procedure, read on for tips on how to get this beautiful perennial off to its best start:
Since the pieces were cut, when you get your plants, dust the root and crown with sulphur or another fungicide to prevent fungal infection. Dip the roots into a very dilute fertilizer water (use about 1/4 strength recommended) while you prepare the planting hole. Since you are planting for the future generations :) add a lot of extra compost or other good enrichments to the soil. The roots are fairly fragile; break off easily, like bleeding heart or oriental poppy roots. So be extra careful when you handle them. The roots will go down fairly deep into the soil, and spread outward even more eventually.
After you get it planted, prepare special water: use 1 tablespoon of epsom salt in a gallon of water. Not 5 tablespoons or 1 cup, just 1 tablespoon ;) Pour the entire gallon of water all around the soil. If it still looks dry, water more with plain water. I have found out that a little epsom salt is great, but too much will burn the roots :(
If you don't have epsom salts (they are great on roses, too along with many other shrubs) use extra-dilute liquid fertilizer (about the same as you used to soak the roots in above). But use the whole gallon of water after planting each division.
Siting: they will take about a year to become completely established; don't let them dry out during this time. After that, they tolerate drought very well. They don't tolerate standing water, they need shade, especially in the summer. Winter can be sunnier, but wind will quickly burn the foliage.
Pruning: hellebores are "evergreen", but the foliage becomes tattered during the worst of the winter. You can leave it there or you can cut the damaged leaves off at ground level. That shows off the flowers to best advantage, but it is not required. New leaves are put up all through the year except in the worst of winter cold.
If there are any more tips, pass them along! I know all of us are anxious to learn more about these beauties.
WOW! lupinelover,
I received the plants today. They look great. Those hellebores are HUGE! They must have been in the ground for years.
Three times the size a mailorder nursery sent me once.
Thanks SO much!
I will prepare to send your clover tomorrow.
Evelyn
Evelyn, I am so glad they arrived safe! Yeah, they were so big, it was a real challenge to dig them (not really: my dad dug them up!) The one labelled "dark freckled" was the biggest: I got 7 divisions, all about equal in size! That is how overgrown it was; just smothering many other plants. I fooled it: put it in a new home, and put one of the slower-growing ones in its place :)
I do love hellebores; they are so overlooked, because by the time most people get to the nurseries, they only want plants that are beginning to bloom in April and May, not those that are finishing by then! Maybe this fall I will root cuttings of some of my other winter-blooming babies :)