Helleborus 2015

[Yann]

I couldn't go there friday, i work 5km from the nursery but i was too busy during lunch time...
sooner Japaneses were visited the nursery.

[Maggi Young]

Pépinières Delabroye  - Thierry et Sandrine
40 Rue Roger Salengro, 59496  Hantay
Tel/fax : +33 (0)3 20 49 73 98.

http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/les_vivaces_de_sandrine_et_thierry.htm

[fixpix]

I am wondering about something and I have a question.
All the wild Helleborus I got from woods around lose their leaves during winter.
But I got a couple different plants from seeds (a reddish one and a white one) that keep their leaves. Huge, beautiful, healthy green leaves. And I could see that some of the flower stalks are bent, even broken and I am wondering if this is from the heavy leaves or the snow.
The question would be, can I cut these leaves in late fall? Would this hurt? I would like to see nice flowers in spring not just a bunch of leaves.

[Maggi Young]

We cut the leaves off our hellebores in January, usually. That is before the  buds have grown enough to be in danger.

[fixpix]

Aaa, OK Maggi. And I thought my plants were doing something wrong
Thanks.

[Yann]

I always cut 95% of the leaves at mid-december, just before the floral buds emerge.

[johnralphcarpenter]

I agree, cut off the old leaves, but only on Helleborus x hybridus. Many species are deciduous anyway and lose their leaves, such as the ones in your woods - possibly H. viridis or H. occidentalis.Don't cut off the leaves of H. argutifolius or H. lividus or hybrids such as H. x ericsmithii or H. x sternii, unless they are damaged or diseased.

[johnralphcarpenter]

I see that there are many wild hellebore species in Romania _ purpurascens, dumetorum etc. so your wild ones could be any of those, but all are deciduous.

[fixpix]

I am not good with the species.
Better show pics.
This is the "wild one" and this one behaves nicely. Leaves die before winter.
http://s87.photobucket.com/user/calinromania/media/Garden%20-%202014/DSCN0977_zps7128459d.jpg.html?sort=3&o=244
Yet these two are the ones I have a problem with.
http://s87.photobucket.com/user/calinromania/media/Garden%20-%202014/DSCN0622_zps1439d87c.jpg.html?sort=3&o=247
http://s87.photobucket.com/user/calinromania/media/Garden%20-%202014/DSCN0617_zps8e68f148.jpg.html?sort=3&o=250
The pics are from last spring.
But if you say it's ok to cut off the leaves, I will do it before winter comes.

[johnralphcarpenter]

The wild one looks like Helleborus purpurascens to me - it is widespread in Romania. The other two are probably Helleborus x hybridus if they keep big old leaves through winter. You can cut them off now if you wish - I do mine in February. Don't cut them off too early next winter as the plant needs to photosynthesise. Mid winter is ideal if they are free of snow.

[fixpix]

Thanks. I'll do that 

[MargaretB]

Helleborus x belcheri Pink Ice, a hybrid between h niger and thibetanus, from Ashwood Nurseries after years on their waiting list.

[johnralphcarpenter]

I too waited years for this, planted it amongst other hellebores, it flowered and over the next winter it disappeared.

[Yann]

Ralph gonna ask Thierry D. for a spare or 2. May be available for the AGS show...

[mark smyth]

Helleborus x belcheri Pink Ice, a hybrid between h niger and thibetanus, from Ashwood Nurseries after years on their waiting list.

I'm still waiting for word on that one and something 'Briar'