Thread: WS Helleborus

I don't think they bloom the first year. Seems like mine took a couple of years to start blooming. Lisa

I think that was my problem too - I didn't get the seeds out in time. They missed that first warm period. I did leave them out in their jugs during the summer, but then kind of forgot about them and ended up dumping them in the late fall of last year. I guess I should have just left them another winter, huh? Well, once again I didn't get them out in time, so I will most likely just wait till next year to try again. I did much better...

Lisa, by sowing in winter, your seeds got the cold period first. They sat moist but dormant until they had the right temps in the right order - warm, followed by cold, rising to cool. Worked out OK given that you had seedlings, but exposing them the warm period first would likely have taken 6 months or more off the germination from sowing time.

Can you share success stories about WS'ing helleborus?

No success for me either. I tried using fresh seed a few years ago but I'm pretty sure I kept them moist in the frig for awhile over summer before I winter sowed them later in the fall. Maybe they didn't get enough warmth first. I was so sad since someone had sent me a bunch of seed from their double blooming varieties and not a one germinated. Reading this is making me want to try again.

I have grown Hellebore from seed for 8 plus yrs.I get fresh seed put them in pots and top off with leaves and sit outside for the summer,fall,I make sure they dont dry out.I usually see growth in late November and then they go to a cold frame for the winter.I had over 900 plants in bloom last year08-09 season.I expect 1500 plus this year.I hope this helps with growing your seed..........There is a Hellebore forum on GW that has good information

I was lucky enough to get some Hellebore seeds from a fellow GWer, Abbie. Do you think they would grow and bloom for winter of 2010/2011 if I planted inside now and moved them outside around January 15th? Do they bloom the first year or am I looking at growth by 2010/2011 and blooms in 2011/2012? If I started inside now, it would give them a warmer period of about 45 days (my house temp is usually around 60 degrees) before putting them out for...