Saturday, May 24, 2008

Hellebore Rx Needed

Just take a look at this sad sack. It is one of three Hellebores I moved last summer. They were merely existing in their previous spot so I moved them here near the blackberries. They appeared to be doing well until this week when I noticed this one lying down on the job. As the tag says it is Blackthorne Strain Lenten Rose. I don't know if this would help with a diagnosis. The other two look quite happy about themselves. One has a fern that is trying to encroach upon its turf. This I can easily deal with but it is the sickly one I am worried about. I figure I should be making funeral arrangements for it. Compost or dump? I wonder if what it has is catching?
Here they grow all together. Does anyone have an idea what might be wrong with the sickly one? Is it a gonner? I believe so but I wonder just what has caused this?? Ihave never had a hellebore do this before. I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions.
I hope everyone is having a great weekend. The weather here is sure cooperating. We are having gorgeous spring weather.

15 comments:

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  2. Lisa, I thought my 'Pacific Frost' hellebore was a goner for sure. Its leaves looked just like that. I cut them off, but I left it in the ground. It's not dead! It has two leaflets on it now, and it doesn't look like it will amount to much just yet, but I was sure it was never to return. Cut the dead or sad leaves off and wait a bit to see if it comes back to life.

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  3. Hi Lisa...I see that other have said what I am about to relay.
    I did the same as you one year...several of mine looked awful. I to cut the leaves off and left them.....now they bloom generously every year.
    I have since read in a gardening magazine that Hellebores do not like to be moved and some of them struggle.....so I suggest leave it and wait and see.

    I do hope it survives, they are to beautiful to lose.

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  4. I haven't had a problem with hellebores. The H. foetidus seems to move quite easily but then it is seedlings I am moving. Sounds like you have received sound advice from the group. I will hope for your hellebore's survival!

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  5. Kylee, Cheryl and Layanee, thank you for your advise. I will cut it down and hope for the best.

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  6. I don't claim to know much of anything about gardening Lisa, but from a nurse perspective, I'd say he is in critical condition for sure. ;c)

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  7. I'm no help on hellebores, but it sounds like you already have gotten some good advice. I tend to leave a sickly plant in the garden all summer, giving it pep talks and hoping it will perk up eventually. Sometimes they surprise me.

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  8. Poor little Hellebore! I hope it recovers.

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  9. Very cool plant and our weather has also been cooperating also for the holiday but they are talking thunderstorm tomorrow!!

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  10. Lisa: don't know a single thing about hellebore... I never even heard of them until I started reading northern blogs. Sounds like you are getting good advice.

    Other than this plant your garden is looking great. How does that happen so fast up there when just a couple of months ago nothing was growing? ... it really is amazing.

    I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend too.

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  11. Lisa, I'm no help with the Hellebores :o( I've seen so much death and dying around here since the record drought... But here, spring is looking pretty good and we hope the rainshowers continue. There's still a lot of stress in the trees and shrubs this year.

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  12. Dear Lisa,
    I leave everything for a full year at least after I transplant. I also fix a garden tea of camomile. If a plant seems sickly I give a watering of tea. I also will mulch with composit.
    Hopefully your hellebore will bounce back!
    Sherry

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  13. Hi Lisa, your hellebore looks like mine which I bought this February and planted in March. Until two weeks ago it did quite well, but now...I took the dark leaves off but I leave the plant in the bed, hoping (and wishing!) the roots are ok and the plant will survive. The final result we'll see next winter ;-) !!

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  14. Hi Lisa, the advice to cut off the dead leaves and let it be seems good to me. I have moved hellebores in the past without a problem, but usually in cool weather, not after mid spring. They don't like wet feet, but your others look fine. Maybe he is not a good mover, needing more time to adjust.

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  15. I don't think they like being moved that much--they seem to like to hang out and become established. But I also think that given time it will survive. This has been a great spring for hellebores up here.

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