Looking for a new hellebore - colour advice please :D

Posts

• ken9351 Posts: 5

  16 February

  Hey there! Your hellebore collection sounds amazing! Choosing between Harvington double pink, double white, and double yellow is a tough call, but I totally get your color concerns.

  For the double pink, it's more on the lighter side, but individual experiences may vary. Whites can sometimes be tricky - if you're worried about it fading, maybe consider a double yellow for that creamy pop you're after. Pictures can be deceiving, but a well-reviewed double yellow might just be the bright touch you're looking for.

  It's always a bit of a gamble, but that's the excitement of gardening

  Whichever you choose, I hope it adds the perfect splash of color to your space!

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  16 February edited 16 February

  @Pushkinia Double and single yellows are still difficult to find in my opinion unlike other colours.
  I did grow an Apricot in my old garden and agree too many dark coloured flowers can disappear against the colour of the soil. Also doubles don't seen to flower so well.
  Yellows can be very expensive if purchased from a nursery like John Massey's , the very best Hellebores if you are crazy about them, normally out of stock!
  This one is new to me the photo doesn't show just how yellow it really is.Helleborous Orizontalis Magic Yellow.
  I did buy a yellow without flowers last autumn it is plum! I was cross with myself should have known better. The best way to buy a Hellebore is when it is in flower and choose the best.  Never purchase if there is ant sign of leaf problems or brown marks on flowers.
  H Anna's Red is in the Rodney Davey group these have marbled leaves that are only cut back as they die off they also like some sun. The Harvington Hybrid's normally have all there leaves cut back before flowering if untidy. Suze

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• puschkinia Posts: 229

  16 February

  Thanks @ken9351! That's really helpful. I'll probably rule out the pink then, just to be safe
  
  Thanks @GardenerSuze - totally agree about the darker colours fading into the soil, though I still love them. I didn't realise the doubles don't flower as well as the singles! That's really good to know, perhaps I'll seek out a single then. I just wanted to avoid a patch of my garden having too many similar-looking flowers. 
  
  Getting plum instead of yellow is so upsetting Come to think of it, my anna's red can't be an anna's red then (still have the e-receipt and that's definitely what I ordered!) - it doesn't have marbled leaves and I cut it back no problem. Oops, will follow your tip and only buy in flower XD Thanks so much for the other advice too, that's so helpful

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  16 February

  @puschkinia  I think they can all fade to a washed out colour when pollinated. I never mind because it is the sign of an early bee visiting the garden it makes me smile. Hellebores do cross and seedlings are often not as good as the parent. It  takes years to flower them from a seedling and crossing can often result in a muddy plumb colour. Cross pollinating can be done but at it's best a job for the expert.
  Anna's Red is named after Anna Pavord the Tulip expert.

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• Loxley Posts: 5,698

  16 February

  I have the double pink, a nice colour, but not that light really. I saw some double whites the other day which stopped me in my tracks. Such a pure white. But I am really intrigued by the yellows.. perhaps the process of fading to green would be more graceful?

  "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 

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• puschkinia Posts: 229

  17 February

  I made the terrible mistake of looking at Ashwood Nursery online and have now obviously gone and bought 3, whoops! I was worried about the flowering issue with the doubles, so I went with a lovely single yellow, but just couldn't resist a double yellow and a double white too. I think that double white will look beautiful even if it does go green, and that if I even get one or 2 of those flowers I'll be very happy
  
  Thanks for your advice @ken9351, @GardenerSuze & @Loxley!  

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  17 February edited 17 February

  @puschkinia I had a white Picotee with a Maroon edge in my old garden. I purchased it on a visit to Ashwoods about ten years ago. I left it behind not wanting to disturb it. There was a flowered seedling too but not as good as the parent.
  I have grown many Hellebores over the years both in my garden and for others. This particular plant has  flowered well every year, healthy and always remained my favourite.
  The breeding that goes into these plants makes them the very best.
  
  As for the flowering issues with the doubles I wonder if others can give their thoughts?
  It is something I have experience but it may depend on the vigour of each individual plant.
  

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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