My helleborus is not a happy camper - actually I have two, and they aren't doing a blasted thing. They were VERY slow to get going last year. I bought them from our local arboretum/garden society, so I think they were pretty young. Finally by fall they started to look well established, so I thought I'd see flowers this spring. It's been VERY warm here, but they look pretty be-draggled and there are no buds at all.

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Sandy R.

Hi Sandy,

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who's had trouble growing helleborus. I have a message in the Gardening in the Shade forum and tkhooper responded with some guidelines which I saved, so you might want to check that out.

Good luck and keep me posted!

patches

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"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"

Weezie - They are planted about "yeah" deep! (enough to cover their roots but not the neck). Our soil is rotten, nasty clay, so I've worked in well composted manure and expensive topsoil. They were fertilized throughout the summer last year. They get morning sun, but the rest of the day is mostly shady against my light grey garage. All their neighbors - the ligularia, toad lilies, hostas, astilbes, etc., did great last year in that location. Lots of H2O - it was very dry here last summer. I'll try to get a picture later today.

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Sandy R.

OK - I have maligned my poor plant! I looked again tonight, and there is actually a bud trying to open. Here's the good bud.

and the frozen bud


and the sickly other plant


These had a nice blanket of leaves, so I'm not sure why they look so stressed. Anyway, here's to hoping they perk up.

Thanks all!

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Sandy R.