I also love Hellebore but the prices are just nuts. I bought three this year and they were $32 each. I wonder why they are so expensive. I did find that they will not tolerate the sun here. I bought some inexpensive umbrellas to shade the one that is on the edge of the shade bed and he is much happier now. Can you grow them from seeds?

Mary, Hellebores can be grown from seeds if you have fertile parents. For example, the Helleborus niger hybrids that I have are not fertile, and they don't self-seed. I have two plants of Helleborus orientalis in the front; one is pink with dark speckles and the other is white with dark speckles. They are opening now. These two guys have produced a seedling, which will also open its first bud in a day or two. I have heard from many people (including Monthy from Gardener's World) that Helleborus seedlings often pick up the worst qualities of their parents; usually muted and unattractive colours. I will keep you posted about my seedling. I have two more very small seedlings, and as I recall, it takes about three years to see the first bloom.

I agree that Hellebores are very expensive. I bought mine in sales. For example, big grocery stores have them around Christmas. Those are Helleborus niger cultivars; they are also called Christmas Roses because they set bud and bloom around Christmas. They set bud around that time in my garden, but they really start to bloom in February and March depending on spring weather. I got mine well after Christmas; those were leftovers that people didn't want to buy. They were 75% off. You could also buy them by the end of a season when they are not attractive and nurseries usually discount them at that time. As I recall, I paid full price only for one of my Hellebores because it has a nice name; Ruby Wine. Did not want to miss that one.

If the sun is too strong for them, you could plant them below the bushes. They love the shade.

Mary, I have had Hellebores for many years and have seedlings everywhere. The newer varieties sometimes are advertised as sterile.
Everything seems to have gone up in price this year. I had sticker shock at Lowes the other day on the shrubs.

OH Jasmin. I bought Ruby Wine this year. $32. But I will look at the stores this winter for 'left overs'. I may even put a shade sail over the corner garden as a good part of it gets full sun part of the morning and still too hot. I planted trillium there but no sight of growth yet. Have two on the hot side and will move them. Already moved the hellebore that were on the sunny end.

Things are moving along. I highly recommend the peony rings off cricket hill. They are hard core.







Julia rose. I've had this for maybe 4 years moved once, never bloomed.

Yes, things are moving along over here too. The TP exposed the buds, lots of them

However, not all new additions will bloom These TPs have no buds this year (their second year in my garden)
1 Big White (hoping for Godaishu or Futo Tsukasa) - not a surprise, that the first year, the mother plant bloom was so big that it's clear this plant needs to get established first to be able to produce such big blooms
2. Lavender Hills - this one came from New Zealand. It is on its own roots, so I expected it to bloom, but let's give it one more year to get established
3. Blue Saphire also came on its own roots, but no buds this year.

Furthermore:
4. Single white has no buds. I got it late summer last year, and I wouldn't expect it to bloom anyway because it spent the summer in a small and very crowded nursery.
5. Guardian of the Monastery was sick last year, and it is very slow this year. Hope it will start growing faster in a month or so.

Now I am only hoping that we will not have late-spring snowstorms

Great spring flowers and growths everyone! I am glad to see that the northern gardens are waking up.

Ruthanna, that peony ring from Cricket Hill looks mighty fine! It's probably the nicest one that I have seen. Did you just get it this year? Would love to hear your assessment of it after the peony bloom season.

I love hellebores! They are usually the first to bloom in my garden. It took awhile but some of my hellebores do produce seedlings. So far, the seedlings have bloomed to be exact copies of their parents. I have not seen anything outstanding yet.

This gardening hobby has become quite expensive in recent years. I am glad that I started gardening back 10 years ago when everything was relatively affordable. Tree peony was priced over $100 at my garden nursery last year. THis year, I bet it's going to be $30 more than what it was last year.

I don't know. I have paid $130 for a peony about 8 years ago, and now you can get it for $60. Got Festiva Maxima and another historic for $60 each also. One the "new" wears off, people want to latest and greatest. Fine with me, I am patient.

I love the looks of that Peony ring, Ruthanna. You'll have to let us know how it works!

The peony ring just arrived this week. Most of the peony's were already several inches above ground so I was limited on which I could use it on. Eager to see how it does this summer

Yesterday was 80*. Peonies are growing fast now. Most of my peony are from early April 2021 so looking forward to many more blooms this year. I love everyone's pics!

kousa said:

I love hellebores! They are usually the first to bloom in my garden. It took awhile but some of my hellebores do produce seedlings. So far, the seedlings have bloomed to be exact copies of their parents. I have not seen anything outstanding yet.

This gardening hobby has become quite expensive in recent years. I am glad that I started gardening back 10 years ago when everything was relatively affordable. Tree peony was priced over $100 at my garden nursery last year. THis year, I bet it's going to be $30 more than what it was last year.

My Helleborus orientalis seedling is opening, and it does not look too bad. That story about ugly seedlings sounds like a bad rap. Will post a pic when it opens. There are several more little seedlings. Happy to give them away in good homes

On the TP prices, some special varieties are really expensive. For example, Halifax Perrnials' TPs are anything between 185CAN to 458CAN, which is 139$ to 343$. They also have some NOIDs for 39CAN (or 30$). I have a feeling that these unidentified cultivars are Japanese classics. Fortunately, the Japanese classic TPs are my favourite; that's why I bought those three or four in the grocery store. They haven't been of subordinate quality. Quite opposite. Nowadays, that would probably be the best way to start a TP collection.

I think I am done with the shopping for TPs, simply because I don't have any space left. There is a spot that I keep for Yachiyo-Tsubaki and perhaps one more spot for the peony that I got from my neighbour. On top of everything, I have got my little seedlings. Thus, no more shopping for me

cattleyafan2023 said:






Yesterday was 80*. Peonies are growing fast now. Most of my peony are from early April 2021 so looking forward to many more blooms this year. I love everyone's pics!

Very nice! I am sure you will get more peony blooms this year. How long does it take for your leucojum for a clump?

Jasmin, with you about the Jap. classics. I am partial to them as well. Do you know what varieties of tree peonies that they sell for over CA$200? Wow, those are really expensive.

kousa said: Very nice! I am sure you will get more peony blooms this year. How long does it take for your leucojum for a clump?

Jasmin, with you about the Jap. classics. I am partial to them as well. Do you know what varieties of tree peonies that they sell for over CA$200? Wow, those are really expensive.

Thanks Kousa
The leucojum is around 15 years old. I think this one is aestivum 'Gravetye Giant'. The regular aestivum clump of the same age is much less robust.

All my hellebores are in bloom picked some for inside

kousa said:

Jasmin, with you about the Jap. classics. I am partial to them as well. Do you know what varieties of tree peonies that they sell for over CA$200? Wow, those are really expensive.

Here is the Halifax Perrenials website (in Canadian $). There are many cultivars over 200$, but I think that they don't ship to the States.
https://halifaxperennials.ca/p...

The most expensive is Beach Comber for 498 CAN; that would be some 373 $

I bought Lavander Hills from them. The plant was originally imported from New Zealand. I have only good experience with Halifax Perrenials.

Jasmin, they have good offerings, but don't ship to the states.

What wonderful signs of spring you guys!

Sorry But I just have to share this

Pink Pompadour.. Impulse Home Depot purchase. Couldn't resist. They always preform so poorly for a few years but hopefully it's true to name and looking forward to blooms.