Hellebore has flopped over

[thirteenbooks]

I planted this hellebore back in January: it has been going great guns until last week, when it just flopped over and is now looking quite sad!

Up until 6 weeks ago, it has been shaded by a hedge that we have cut shorter, so it now gets a bit more midday sun. Do I need to find it a new home, or might it be something else? There isn't anything on the leaves to suggest fungus, and the plant seems healthy. Other than the fact its lying on the ground!

Have you given it a drink? I've had to water a few plants today as it's been hot and dry here.

@ProperVexed, yes, we've been watering... The soil is still moist and it doesn't feel dry to the touch.

The season is over now really for hellebores. Cut it back and plant something over it to give it shade for next year. It willl come up again in January.

There's no water getting to those leaves. So either it's too dry, or you've lost the roots. Give it a really good drink (a bucket full) and see what happens - if that is the problem, it should perk up within 48 hours, If watering doesn't help, you could dig it up and see what's happening underneath.

I wouldn't advise cutting hellebores back. The leaves are required to put energy into the roots for growing next year's leaves and flowers. You'd get away with it for one year, but not year after year.

To be more precise - you can cut back last year's leaves, which are looking obviously manky by now, but not the new growth.

@MereDintofPandiculation, thank you! I thought I'd watered it enough.... gave it a full bucket about 4 hours ago and its started to perk up already!

Oh, that is good news!