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Mystery arrival??

BettyWalesBettyWales Posts: 71
in Plants
I’ve spotted a new arrival in my mixed border recently. It looks very healthy… only thing is I really don’t remember planting it. Strong looking mottled leaves with serrated edges but no sign of any buds or flowers yet so haven’t got much to give me a clue?

Any ideas out there please (I’m hoping it’s not a thug to be disposed of!)😊


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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Fairly sure it is a Hellebore, but it must have been planted there, it would not have just arrived.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • BettyWalesBettyWales Posts: 71
    If it’s a hellebore is it normal for it to be appearing now (don’t know a lot about them but thought they were evergreen?)
    If it’s been planted there that could be a bit worrying….as I do all the planting 😖
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The leaves often appear now, but yours looks like one of the forms that you wouldn't normally remove the leaves on, so should be evergreen.


    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Definitely looks like one….


  • BettyWalesBettyWales Posts: 71
    Well I can’t disagree with you looking at that picture…identical! At least it’s in a good spot as it’s got room to grow where it is.
    Thanks both for your quick replies, I’ll keep an eye on it to see how it develops & read up on that named variety 😊
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited May 2023
    @BettyWales It is one of the evergreens from the Rodney Davey Group. As mentioned only remove the leaves as they age. They also need more sun than H orientalis. Is it possible you purchased it sometime ago and thought you had lost it? They can die right back.
    This group includes H Anna's Red, Glenda's Gloss, Sally's Shell, Penny's Pink there are many more. Added bonus of the lovely marbled leaves through summer but I would not swao for the straight forward H orientalis personally I think they are far more exciting.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • BettyWalesBettyWales Posts: 71
    edited May 2023
    @GardenerSuze  Many thanks for your detailed reply 👍

    There’s a good chance that I may have planted it some time ago as it definitely wasn’t on show over the winter? 
    I’ll keep my eye on it as it’s not in the sunniest part of the garden but is probably in semi shade so maybe happy. It’ll be interesting to see what colour flower it produces (may help identify it better) but this may not until later in the year.
    Any other tips gratefully received 😊

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited May 2023
    BettyWales said:
    @GardenerSuze  Many thanks for your detailed reply 👍

    There’s a good chance that I may have planted it some time ago as it definitely wasn’t on show over the winter? 
    I’ll keep my eye on it as it’s not in the sunniest part of the garden but is probably in semi shade so maybe happy. It’ll be interesting to see what colour flower it produces (may help identify it better) but this may not until later in the year.
    Any other tips gratefully received 😊

    Definitely Helleborus sp./named cultivar.
    Probably not Helleborus lividus as that is trifoliate.
    Your plant has 5 leaflets.

    Maybe one such as Helleborus x ericsmithii Winter Moonbeam
    You will not get any flowers until Mid winter to early spring 2024.

    https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/273121/

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @BettyWales I think that is far as you can go at this stage. They are hungry plants that love leaf mould if you have some. Just avoid getting it too close to the base of the plant.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    At least you didn't walk on it or accidently dig it up which I've done when I've forgotten something


    In the sticks near Peterborough
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