I think it is natural for the flowers to droop downward so that the rain runs off. A friends tried for many years to breed them with upward facing flowers with little success. Ashwood Nurseries is the place to buy hellebores and an amazing place to visit when the garden is open too. I have just one plant purchased from them but it flowers earlier for longer and has out lived all the others.It is a white picotee, edged with plum. I do have just two seedlings from it very similar but not as good as parent plant.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
The local nursery I use always has lots of hellebores @GardenerSuze, so I might venture down there in February, once I have new insurance on the car, and don't feel worried about going anywhere I can't walk back home from if I break down. Long story! I have a couple of the 'Lady' types - a white and a very dark one. Both very reliable. That one you describe sounds nice. I find I'm getting some seedlings/young plants now, but I don't like the muddy pink colours you often get when Hellebores cross. They'll all be getting bunged in the front garden where I don't see them
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm sure you mean "orientalis" hybrids. All the breeders are busting a gut to get to open/upward facing varieties. Not quite there yet. The first ones will be expensive.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
@Fairygirl I'm not really fond of the muddy pink ones either and that is what you often get. Normally any seedling goes but when I found two next to the white picotee I decided to keep them and I was pleased I did. The whites creams shine out on winters day.
I do have various ones from the Rodney Davey group which are everywhere in the garden centres. They have lovely marbled leaves flower well for a few years but then loose their vigour. They need more sun but you do have the bonus of the leaves.
The Lady series are new to me but I do recall you posting a lovely photo of them last year.
I will be growing them again when I move there is always a space for Hellebores and if not I will make one. I would rather just grow one real beauty. Garden vouchers for Christmas so I will be treating myself too.
When it comes to upward facing flowers it is a personal choice but I prefer the flowers to nod.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Ashwoods - as mentioned by @GardenerSuze stock several with outward facing flowers. Google....
Was that the dark one I posted a photo of Gardener Suze? The whites vary a bit, but are very useful in those awkward sites. The R. Davey ones are nice too A very kind forum member sent me a H'bore seedling some years ago - should have been Tutu, but it turned out to be a cross with something else. It was a lovely speckled white with a large corona. Really pretty. I moved it last year, so fingers crossed it'll flower this year - in a site near the house windows.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes @Fairygirl a very dark one I remember it being a lovely photo. There was a very long thread with some stunning photos earlier in the year. Just going to take a look at Ashwoods website.....
Carol Klein did a series Great British Gardens in which she interviews John Massey in the garden at Ashwoods Nursery on u tube if anyone is interested.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
My vote for anyone looking for hellebores, is go to Ashwoods in February and pick out what you want, already in flower. They are not cheap but you won't be disappointed. Even my seedlings that come from the Ashwood parents are lovely.
I have been but many years ago@fidgetbones at that time there was a small glasshouse with hundreds to choose from. I just walked round and round changing my mind. Howard Drury had showed us around the garden and I basically asked him to pick one the rest is history. I think it was about £25.00 which was alot of money about ten years ago just as lovely today with lots of buds forming as I write.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
Ashwood Nurseries is the place to buy hellebores and an amazing place to visit when the garden is open too. I have just one plant purchased from them but it flowers earlier for longer and has out lived all the others.It is a white picotee, edged with plum. I do have just two seedlings from it very similar but not as good as parent plant.
I have a couple of the 'Lady' types - a white and a very dark one. Both very reliable. That one you describe sounds nice.
I find I'm getting some seedlings/young plants now, but I don't like the muddy pink colours you often get when Hellebores cross. They'll all be getting bunged in the front garden where I don't see them
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I do have various ones from the Rodney Davey group which are everywhere in the garden centres. They have lovely marbled leaves flower well for a few years but then loose their vigour. They need more sun but you do have the bonus of the leaves.
The Lady series are new to me but I do recall you posting a lovely photo of them last year.
I will be growing them again when I move there is always a space for Hellebores and if not I will make one. I would rather just grow one real beauty. Garden vouchers for Christmas so I will be treating myself too.
When it comes to upward facing flowers it is a personal choice but I prefer the flowers to nod.
I'm sure jomacl would like you to name a few.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Was that the dark one I posted a photo of Gardener Suze? The whites vary a bit, but are very useful in those awkward sites. The R. Davey ones are nice too
A very kind forum member sent me a H'bore seedling some years ago - should have been Tutu, but it turned out to be a cross with something else. It was a lovely speckled white with a large corona. Really pretty. I moved it last year, so fingers crossed it'll flower this year - in a site near the house windows.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Carol Klein did a series Great British Gardens in which she interviews John Massey in the garden at Ashwoods Nursery on u tube if anyone is interested.