Hellebores germinating and flowering

Hellebore seedlings in pot

Here are some images from the nursery taken yesterday, starting with hellebore seed sown last June.  Click on the blog link to see all the images.  They key is gathering fresh seed…even month old seed has a greatly reduced viability.  The seed are sown almost immediately after harvest and kept in a cold frame with night temperatures near freezing.  Germination occurs in January.

Hellebore stock green house

The seedlings are first transplanted into cell packs, then into 1 quart pots by May.  It takes us just over 2.5 years from seed sowing to flower for most of the Helleborus x hybridus.

Helleborus x hybridus Cotton Candy

Here are some hellebore images snapped yesterday.  Here is Helleborus ‘Cotton Candy’…a stunning seed strain.

Helleborus x hybridus Red Sapphire

Followed by Helleborus ‘Red Sapphire’

Helleborus x hybridus Painted Doubles2

Helleborus ‘Painted Doubles‘ are always amazing.

Helleborus x hybridus Peppermint Ice2

and Helleborus ‘Peppermint Ice’

Helleborus x hybridus Onyx Odyssey2

Helleborus ‘Onyx Odyssey’

Helleborus x hybridus Rose Quartz

and finally, Helleborus ‘Rose Quartz’.  All the images above are hybrids from Ernie and Mariettta O’Byrne, and we are thrilled to be able to offer their introductions.  Remember, only 4 weeks remain before our first winter open nursery and garden for 2015.  We hope to see you for our hellebore (and other plants) extravaganza!

7 thoughts on “Hellebores germinating and flowering”

  1. Nice job with the Hellabores Tony!!! Do you grow any Physoplexis Comosa? I would attend your open house but it would mean a flight, too and from, and the airlines are really cracking down on what you can bring on an airplane! Hope all goes well!!!!!!!!!

  2. One of my all time favorite tough durable beautiful perennials for CT gardens, and also very functional and useful in container gardens. Love the photos of the blooms on this post – and cool to see how it is done from seeds.

  3. my H. thibetanus that I got from Herronswood in 2003 did not bloom in 2014, just lots of foliage. How long can this plant survive? When will we see it again available? Also, pachyphragma macrophullum seeds itself like a weed here(Mi) but is still a great shade plant!

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