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What has happened to my helibores!

rachelsophiaoakesrachelsophiaoakes Posts: 62
in Problem solving
Please help. I have three (previously lovely) helibores. Originally they had white flowers with yellow stamens in the middle. Quite lovely. Now two years on their my are this meh pale green colour which I wouldn’t mind but much less attractive is the centres. They no longer have nice yellow stamens just this dry seed pod (?). They have gone brown too maybe through under watering but even before that they had changed completely. Is it soil type like a hydrangea and can I turn them back to what they were or have they morphed forever?!  I really dislike them as they are.

Thanks everyone. 

Rachel

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hellibores flower in the winter/early spring.  As the flowers fade and seeds develop the sepals/petals change colour before the flower dies and the plant almost shuts down for the summer, bursting into life again in the winter.   

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you don't want any seeds, cut the flowers right back to near their base too. They'll come away again in winter, as @Dovefromabove describes.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • rachelsophiaoakesrachelsophiaoakes Posts: 62
    Thanks. Very useful info. They weren’t ever white with stamens though even last winter. Colour in pic without stamens 😢
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It looks like the Corsican hellebore -argutifolius, if the leaves in the first pic belongs to it.
    The flowers aren't really white on those - they're a greeny shade of white

    https://www.123rf.com/photo_105378912_holly-leaved-hellebore-also-known-as-the-corsican-hellebore-helleborus-argutifolius-in-flower-with-a.html
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • rachelsophiaoakesrachelsophiaoakes Posts: 62
    Sorry I didn’t meant they were ever white i meant they weren’t even white last winter. They definitely were white originally. I agree photo does look very similar though. All I remember was they were in something called the gold collection of helibores. Thanks for the info will fit them back and see if that helps 👍
  • rachelsophiaoakesrachelsophiaoakes Posts: 62
    Here it is. You were pretty damn close it is a cross with the Corsican helibore. Bit more creamy...hope the stamens will reappear!


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You’ll get the stamens with the new flowers early next spring 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • rachelsophiaoakesrachelsophiaoakes Posts: 62
    you guys are awesome with all your expert knowledge! 
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