Can I ask some Hellebore questions.

[Paranoidandroidmarvin]

I’m trying to learn ( yes another learning post from me. Sorry )

I wanted to think about my January to April flowering in my garden ( I’m enjoying all this learning so much!!!)

So aside from the usual daffodils etc. I have been trying to read up on Hellebores as they look so gorgeous!

Will I get them in a garden centre at the moment or am I in the wrong time of year.

I’m asking here as I asked a question at my local garden centre last week and the staff member treated me like an idiot. Already feeling out of my depth on all of this. And I left feeling really stupid.

But anyway. And tips or tricks with these plants would be helpful. Thanks!

I've got hellebores and they're lovely. I ordered recently from one of the online sites - Crocus I think.

You are in probably too late for this year,they tend to be planted in autumn

I inherited some in the garden of my new house and I absolutely love them! They are very pretty and definitely add cheer in February/March. I don't know much about planting them I'm afraid but they seem very self sufficient and look lovely so I think they're a good choice!

@nannybeach I thought I maybe. But that’s okay. I can do them later in the year. They look so gorgeous.

It's worth looking in the reduced section on a garden centre as they have probably been moved by now. Mine are still in flower and looking lovely.

I've seen them in garden centres at this time of year. The garden centre near me gets in lots of stock to coincide with when they are in flower. In fact the one I've got in my garden was heavily reduced in a garden centre in late spring, because it had stopped flowering and didn't look as nice (but was still perfectly healthy).
I planted it out, gave it plenty of water straight after to reduce transplant shock, and I feed it a couple of times a year.
It is in semi shade under a tree and is absolutely flourishing now!
Its one of the first flowers to appear in the garden but the flowers last for ages.
Can't remember what variety, but the flowers are white with pretty purple specks inside.

This is the best time to get them - their flowers will have all gone over and so will be sold off cheaper

Online you'll get them pretty much all year round.

Planting them now gives them loads of chance to settle in before their cycle requires they put energy into flower formation. Just keep them well watered over summer. They hate drought and you won't want new plants stressed like that.

I bought some as a Christmas present and they flowered this year despite being planted in mid-December. They are beautiful and are nice to see in the cold dark months.

They were a gift for someone who had expressed regret at having not dug up the ones I'd given before years earlier when they moved house.

If you know someone who has some they might divide a plant and share with you

hellebores

I would buy some in pots online if you can get them. Plant them now and next year you will get lots of flowers. Did you know you can get ones now where the flowers face upwards rather than hanging down. I have some lovely dark purple ones and some pink ones. This site has lots of different ones hayloft.co.uk/product/double-helleborus-collection/yp51a18?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_4-SBhCgARIsAAlegrX-xT0m3E7c9hdpPErvebLlG5dwbwYdEkXh7MU7jVe4CC5OT12N6-kaArajEALw_wcB

If you are planting straight away get bare root. I've ordered plants from Hayloft before and will again.

I got some bulbs as a Christmas present and planted them in a hurry so it was nice to see the flowers. I hadn't paid much notice and they weren't what I expected. Very pretty.

If someone mentions they'd like something, I make a note, then order it delivered to the recipient. Who doesn't love a surprise parcel?

They flowers last ages because they’re bracts, modified leaves, not petals. If you look carefully early in the year you’ll see the tiny flowers inside; at this time of year you’ll see the seed pod

Hellebores are wonderful plants. Give them a good humous rich soil, they don’t mind light shade, so under deciduous trees / bushes is fine, I have most of mine under a guelder rose which I trim so the branches start quite high, so they have light in early spring/ winter. So many varieties to choose from, so many colours and shades, leaf textures, different heights. I love them. Hope the photo loads.