I have one of these and it is new to me so I am trying to figure out where to plant it and I don't know what it's foliage habit is like. Since they bloom really early, I wondered if it keeps its foliage all summer if it dies back and goes dormant when it gets really hot out kind of like bleeding hearts or daffodils do?

Most are evergreen , but you cut back the old looking foliage before the new growth starts so you can see and enjoy the flowers. In your area most likely mid to late March. This is also the time to feed them.

I made the mistake of cutting back the foliage during summer, and my hellebore didn't flower the next year. Holding thumbs for this coming spring...

ok, thanks!

Frillylily they stay green all summer here until the frost comes. The flowers last for a long time as it bleaches out. At least the pink one that I have.

Pretty one, Mike.

Could someone please tell me when to divide them and is it fairly easy? I have never attempted to divide them before. Thank you in advance.

doglover said:Could someone please tell me when to divide them and is it fairly easy? I have never attempted to divide them before. Thank you in advance.

I'm curious about this myself. New to me this year, the gentleman I purchased from had whole plants and seedlings so I opted for a biggie and asked about dividing. All he really told me was to go ahead and plant in an area without mulch so it might re-seed and to wait until fall to tamper with it. He's got hundreds, if not thousands, so I can prod for a little more info on my next visit. I need to buy more as the first has been "claimed"...

By Mom, Wes?

lovemyhouse said:By Mom, Wes?

Sure enough, lol. Glad she didn't notice the other two potted dwarf hostas tucked under her forsythia

lovemyhouse said:

Funny huh? It is and I get lots of laughs on a simple personal level.

Over and over all through the season.

I would not garden if it weren't for the fun. I garden for myself and family, make a living doing it for friends and strangers soon to be friends? I've not beaten the system but as close as I can get. I wouldn't change much. It's love as pure as it exists as I define love.

Yeah, I'm used to the Mom game. "Oh, is that for here?" (wink-wink/bat-bat) She knows the best show is at my house but it's a fun game. Anticipation keeps the mind fresh, at the very least it helps. Works great for me, it really does. Wait 'til you see where I plant her cucumbers. She spent many a year getting the better of me, "fair play" is in order. 80 feet back and forth would probably please those doctors who recommend such? I just try to keep it all interesting and I'm guilty of my own self-indulgence. I dunno about Mom, but I need it.

The garden exists to provide more than blooms or foods as valued as they are. I can't imagine quality of life without the critters, blooms, and problems.

I agree.

lovemyhouse said:I agree.

Thanks Debra, I didn't realize anyone else was still awake! I didn't mean to single you out by quote, I had no better example to work with and it was a great lead towards posting about what means most to me. I can live without a hellebore. ..

No that's a lie. I need more, I don't even have one now! I'm partial to the green flower species plant but it's just a beginning. Pretty plant and glad to have met it, I am still curious regarding division.

Wes, I was not awake by choice--babysitting 2-year-old and he woke up three times during the night.

They can be divided, but very carefully. I wouldn't divide a large in more than half.

The Lady series throws good seed, and you'll have lots of baby hellebores. Scratch up the dirt around the mother hellebore, just when it looks like it's going to seed, or throw some loose compost down. And I find the babies transplant well.

they can be divided , but it seems to set them back more then other plants. I prefer to just let them reseed.

I've read that they 'resent' division, and I found that to be true. I split a couple of mature plants to increase the swath, and both the mother plants and offshoots absolutely sulked for the entire next season. Very little bloom, very little growth. After they got over their tiff, they all got back into their regular rhythm and all was well. Mine is a purple NOID and the seedlings have a brighter foliage and bloom white, not a bad contrast but I prefer to keep the swath consistent so have been yarding out the seedlings.

Here in Tasmania, Hellebores are renowned for being Green for at least 9 months of the year.. Not sure how my Slates will go this year, but from experience with others , they just tuck themselves away for a couple of months!

There are wonderful You-Tube videos on plant care of all kinds.
I always go there for answers as well as ATP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Many varieties of Hellebores seed and start new plants. I dont have that kind of luck.