i have 3 Chocolate hellebores that have now finished flowering. Should I cut it all down both foliage and flowers stalks. This is the first time they have bloomed and were fabulous. Thank you. Pta55
Thank you Silver Surfer. Will just cut the old flower stems down and leave foliage. It is what I thought just wasn’t 100% sure. I agree with the addictive bit!Pta55
Ah yeah I didn't click on the link. Odd that they would say that, perhaps it's because it's a sales site and people get up in arms if their hellebore got slightly battered foliage over winter in an exposed spot. I strongly suspect the Harvington types are as tough as any other strain.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Some of the fancier ones will be a bit less tough I expect. Really beautiful though, but I'd have to keep it undercover in winter. I'm too lazy to faff around with stuff
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I regret to inform you that the bog standard Helleborus x hybridus you've been growing all these years is actually only borderline hardy, Fairy. According to the RHS sales site (AKA Crocus) at least.
I have a chocolate one similar to this one it's different altogether to the others .thinner leaves, and the flowers are like tissue paper . I give it a mulch at the back end of summer and it's fine through winter .Our garden is out in the sticks surrounded by fields....not much protection.
Mine survived a minus 15 C frost that all but killed a phormium. Free draining or claggy soil can make a huge difference. A lot of plants can survive dry cold, rather than frozen in the wet.
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For now....
Just cut back the old flowering stems as far down as possible.
The young fresh leaves will help your Helleborus to get bigger.
Next spring ...
The leaves will begin to look tatty...can carry diseases.
Before the flowers open remove ALL these old leaves.
Then you will be able to enjoy all the flowers and fresh new leaves.
https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/helleborus--hybridus-harvington-double-chocolate/classid.2000013340/
WARNING!
Collecting and growing Hellebores can become addictive!
https://www.google.com/search?q=helleborus+x+hybridus+flowers&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwipt62hjdnpAhXUoVwKHXEeCTcQ_AUoAXoECBUQAw&biw=1920&bih=938
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just looked at your link, but it's just for the basic species - not the chocolate variety. I have quite a few hellebores- all tough as old boots.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Really beautiful though, but I'd have to keep it undercover in winter.
I'm too lazy to faff around with stuff
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/helleborus--hybridus/classid.2917/