Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)

Lenten Rose
Helleborus orientalis

A seedling from a pink-flowering parent posted earlier.

Nice photo.

Hazel, did any of the hellebore seedlings I send you make it? This one is from the same parent as those, but it was a year older. I have a bunch more seedlings coming up this year if you want some.
By the way, I see that my 2 hesperaloes (red yucca) made it through the winter. Still small, but looked fine. It is so much fun to grow something that is out of my zone. I left my holly ferns out last winter, too, with a big layer of leaves on them. I had to cut off the old fronds, but they are bouncing back with new lush growth. I think I will try some of the rosy maidenhair outside next.

Toxicodendron, did you grow them from seeds? I started the seed about 2 months ago. First, I put them in the temp 70 for a month, now they are in the refrig. Haven't see any sprouting yet. I am going to put them outside maybe one week from now. How did your process go?

Thanks,

Fang

Hi Fang,
I just let my plant go to seed and then the next spring there they are! Sorry, I really don't know what to recommend for you, but it sounds like the stratification was a good idea. Sometimes I have over a hundred seedlings come spring. They sprout in darkness under the leaf mulch.
Would you like me to save you some fresh seed this spring and you can sprinkle it in a shady bed and wait a year? The seedlings take about 3 years to start blooming. Or I could send you a few seedlings...I have several that need taken out of the path...small ones.
Maybe later we could swap something you have...like some arisaema seed? ( I remember that you ordered some of the A. candidissimum. LOL)
Susan

Susan, sounds good. Actually all my arisaema seeds are in the pot now. Some are sprouting. I can either send you the new seedling or the pots with the seeds. I also have seeds that still in the refrig. I will send you the list of seeds I have. I do have two Helleborus in my garden. Both are helleborus orientalis. One is royal heritage, and it's flowering this week. Now the really exciting thing I found out yersterday is that my Camellia is about to flower too. I am so happy it survived zone 6a.

Fang

Good Morning, Fang!
I would love to swap seedlings...I could send you several hellebores for an arisaema candidissimum, if that is what you have. I already have jack in the pulpits and green dragons. We could wait a bit until they get larger or send now. Last year I sent out seedlings in some tall prescription bottles (bareroot with damp paper towel) and it worked great according to all the recipients. The postage was only a dollar or less. Or I can pot one or several up, grow them a while, and pay more on postage. Let me know. Congrats on your camellia...alas, I just gave my last 2 away because they got too big for pots and I did not think they would survive outside. Drat!
Susan