At this time of year when the new Hellebores flowers are appearing, their appearance can be diminished by the presence of the old leaves. Whilst the leaves on these Hellebores arent as bad as they have been in previous years, they do have quite a few brown marks and they are beginning to keel over.
So I have followed some advice I read this weekend in a magazine and removed all the leaves. You can only do this on Hellebores where the flower stems are separate from the leaf stems – there are some varieties where the flowers and leaves share stems. New leaves will follow as the flowers finish.
I think you will agree that the plants look much better now and I will be able to see the flowers more clearly. Another tip is that the Hellebores are planted in a border which is about 3 ft above the patio so I get a great view of the flowers.
Excellent advise, I have some drooping Hellebore leaves myself, but thought it too harsh to cut them away. Now I’ll go out with the secateur witout no shame!
That’s a really good tip of planting the hellebores so that you can see their nodding blooms.
My one tiny hellebore is buried under snow and there’s more coming down now on this snowy, blowy, frigid day in upstate NY. I’m just praying mine makes it through the winter. When and if it shows its face, I’ll remember your advise
I’d love to have more of the beauties.
Will go and give a hairdo to my hellebores right now!
The new leaves on my hellebores started coming in before the blooms last month. You are right, I think I am the only one that knows they are blooming because the flowers are hidden. It makes me feel less guilty about picking them for the house. They last weeks as a cut flower!
I trimmed mine recently and it really made a difference. The flowers seem to “pop” now where as before so many old leaves took away from the flowers. I’m really getting hooked on hellebores and all the pretty varieties!
I am so looking forward to the time I can cut back the old Helleborus x orientalis leaves. I nearly started, but then we had a return to cold and snow. Hopefully by this weekend the weather will cooperate. I already cut the H. niger leaves. I wish I had a raised area in which to grow them as you do.
It must be great to have the hellebores planted so that they look down at you. Good advice to cut off the leaves – I usually do this just after Christmas as one year I left it late and cut off some flower stems
Mine are all trimmed and looking good….they are magnificent flowering plants…gail
Hellebores are number one on my list of plants to get this spring. I’ve never grown them, so I’ll have to remember your advice. Thanks!
Very good post for me to read. I bought some seeds for Hellebores the other day and I know they can be stinkers to start. First, you have to sow them 15-20 weeks before your last frost date (Nov. something for me)! It should prove to be interesting, to say the least. This year, I’m also starting Lantana, which takes 40-60 days to germinate! We’ll see how it goes
Tessa – good luck with your Hellebore seedlings – I had some tulips seeds which took 18 months to germinate!
Yes mine are looking a bit bare now but at least the flowers are visible, even if I have to go down on my hands and knees to see inside them!
I was given some Hellebores last year and am still learning how to care for them. Thanks for the tip on removing the old leaves.
Just yesterday I went out and cut down the old leaves of my hellebores, and then this morning I saw your post — thanks! I feel vindicated, because a friend was telling me it is too early to cut them.
I started with one plant about ten years ago, and now I have 10-12, plus some more that have sprung up among the ivy on the adjacent bank of the driveway — if they’re happy, they let you know.
Great tip and a job for the weekend!
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