Helleborus x hybridus 'Ashwood Garden Hybrids'

I cut all the leaves back on my hellebores recently and noticed buds getting ready to burst. Not many at the moment but hopefully soon. For anyone reading this, not all hellebores should be cut back - it is certainly recommended for varieties of helleborus x hybridus (or helleborus orientalis as it’s sometimes referred to) but i would be cautious for others.

Back to the tagging…. 😆 this one is #richspicerhelleborenumber7 , seedgrown #hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

😆😆 I bet you had all thought I’d forgotten about my hellebore tagging! Yep, I wouldn’t always cut them back. So many cross hybrids now with numerous species that you have to be cautious. And quite a few varieties have been made from crossing with tender species so they are not even hardy! @KOutdoors

Nor did I, Karen 😳 @KOutdoors Rich is a never ending source of information! 👍👍

Oooo I love that one Rich 💕

I don’t think many people are Barbara, it’s quite easy to believe they are all hardy, but alas they are not. An example, varieties that are classified as Helleborus x sternii cultivars i would be cautious of as their parentage is linked to Helleborus lividus and Helleborus argutifolius - both originating from milder hotter climates @KOutdoors @jacaranda . There’s others too, I did find a good weblink some time ago so I’ll try and find it

Oh thanks for that Richard! Was not aware of that

Hopefully mine are just the common ones, so they should be fine! 🤞

#veiny as all get out

What a beauty

I love it when we get to see the plants you’re trialling come into flower, we all have different favourites☺️🌸

Thanks Elise 😄 - it’s always exciting to see what comes up. Going to organise them I to groups this year and finally plant them out @Auricula

Can’t get over how well these seed grown hellebores have turned out. Only took a few years to get this far 🤣 virtually every single plant now in flower. Will still catalogue them but will do a few pics every now and again #richspicerhellebore

@richard.spicer.7906, wow😍Gorgeous hellebores!.

Such a lovely display, I think it was worth the wait!

@richard.spicer.7906, wow😍Gorgeous hellebores!.

Fabulous

They are fabulous Richard, and such a range of colours

You've kept them in these pots? I read you should for a couple years. So many pretty colors!

👌🏻

Oh i love that dark one 🖤

They do take a long time but so worth the wait Rich. They look fabulous

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

No.14 - similar to another? More whitish than apricot though. Dark centre too #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber14 - I have more pics, shall I post more?

Deffo not apricot- it’s a harmless activity got to agree with @KOutdoors

Number 13 is my favourite I think 🤔

Still gorgeous 🌸

Beautiful Rich 💕

I really like this one - gorgeous colors❤️

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

No.13 - possibly similar to another one. Red nectaries I think 🧐 #richspicerhelleborenumber13 #richspicerhellebore

So delicate

I’m liking that ☺️

Beautiful ❤

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

No.12 - it’s no wonder Ashwood stopped selling their seed. They have created some amazing colours! 😍 #richspicerhelleborenumber12 #richspicerhellebore

Lovely ☺️

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

No. 11 - pink, faint speckling #richspicerhelleborenumber11 #richspicerhellebore

Lovely Richard 💜

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

Er… bit windy today! 😳💨 - haven’t gone into work, so just sitting staring out the window. May as well show you some more hellebores… no.10 - whitish pink speckled, green nectaries #richspicerhelleborenumber10 #richspicerhellebore

As lovely as number 10 is , number 9 still has my heart☺️

Love that one 💕💕

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

Number 9 looks a beauty! 💛❤️ - and the first one I found with golden nectaries in the centre (I did pay a whole £1 extra for seed which might give me plants with golden coloured nectaries 😆) #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber9

Oh my. This is my favourite so far. How beautiful is that 🌟🌟🌟

I think it might be mine too Jane! @pelly

Oh my favourite too @pelly Richard

*sigh*

Very pretty

Beautiful ❤

Love it ❤️beautiful

OH Rich thats a stunner ..i want one !!

That's a beautiful one ❤️❤️🤍

Oh number nine you’re now my favourite🥰

It is hard to decide, they are all stunning 😍

No. 8 - pink speckled? #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber8

Oh! *sigh and a half*!! Love this one

Very nice 💜

Absolutely stunning. I love this one 💜💜

And this one … seeing them backwards lol 😆

I did that too Julie @juliesgarden 💜💗

What an amazing colour combo! 😍

Another stunner…..💜💜💜💜💜

More like pink splodged than pink speckled 🤣🤣

And so is number 8 🤤

Beautiful 🌞

Stunning!

No. 7 - very veiny 🤩 and lovely dark centre #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber7

Gorgeous. These are all amazing. Worth the wait

A blue kingfisher bird has been turned into this flower by magic🤩

Loving this one

You have some gorgeous plants Richard I will now look for some special plants for next season

Love the contrasting dark and light ☺️

💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋

It reminds me of pewter, but with a pink tinge. Don’t ask me why!!! 🤣

#veiny #pentagonal

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

Playing catch up now, they are opening quicker than I can label them! No. 6….. I think it’s def yellow? Although the sun was out when I took the pic. Maybe it’s green 🤷🏼‍♂️ #richspicerhelleborenumber6 #richspicerhellebore

Definitely yellow!

Looks yellow to me!

Yellow to me again lovely💛

Beautiful 💛💛

Definitely yellow 💛

No 6 look a buttery yellow to me, simply gorgeous 💛

💛💋💛💋💛💋💛

Pretty!!! 🥰

Gooooooorgeous 💛💛💛

I like! 💛💛

Lovely 😊 hopefully when my yellow one opens it will look like yours but it’s taking it’s time!

No. 1 (which was the only one I numbered last year) has finally opened this season. First white, with speckles #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber1

It's lovely 🤍❤🤍

Beautiful 😍😍

Beautiful

Love this one ❤

Why hello number one glad you could make it! Shhh 🤫 don’t want to upset No1 but No5 is still my favourite🥰

That’s a pretty one 😃

Love dark pink dots 💕💕💕

The speckling is very pretty 🤩 @rikkie

Thanks Chris - nice to finally get a white-ish one! @vegandmore

Lol! I think you’re alright, I don’t think it heard you 😉👍🏼 @Auricula

Thanks Jason 💗 quite a small flower compared to the others but still really pretty @hebelover

No. 5…. is alive!! 🤖 💚💛 #filmquotes (I think it’s technically green, although it’s not the strongest for sure!) #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber5

Number 5 is beautiful 💚💚

Gorgeous ❤

Number 5 is now my favourite, sorry number 3. Love the simplicity of number 5☺️

I quite like no. 5 💚💚💚

So delicate, I love it

Quite possibly that Short Circuit is an all time favorite movie of mine!

Great colour 💚

I remember no. 5! This no. 5 is a beauty

That is exquisite! No. 5 is the one for me 👍💚

Lovely colour 😁

Thanks Chris 😊 - hoping some more greens appear. I bought quite a mix of colours in the seed. Haven’t seen any doubles yet though. Maybe later. @vegandmore

Number 4 seems a bit more moody, and a bit more intriguing. Like the fact it’s darker, and a bit more veiny. #hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore #richspicerhelleborenumber4

Gorgeous colour Rich💜💜

Love the veining on this one, I love dark coloured flowers Richard

💜💜

That's lovely 💜

Wow! Amazing 📸

Thanks Enid 😊💜 @godfreye

Good contender then Joan! I know some dark ones are coming so can make some comparisons 😄 @joanboston

Thanks Sue 😊 @lilybee

Thank you Is 😊 @islima

Sorry my favourite is Number 4 - “Come in number 5…”💜

They’re all lovely, Rich. 🥰

Morning 👋🏼☕️ - Number 3 has opened. Not sure I’m as excited about this one as the other one (no.2) but it’s still nice. Interesting how it has a faint white margin around each petal. Will see how it changes with age. #hellebore #helleborus #richspicerhelleborenumber3 #richspicerhellebore #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

It’s a lovely dusky pink Richard

Morning Rich, I agree with Joan @joanboston the colour is lovely 🌸🌸🌸

It’s pink so obviously I love it 💕💕😂😂

It is Joan, it’s quite a big flower too. Biggest so far anyway. Think it did appear last year too but only just getting round to numbering them all. Can then plant the right colour groups together 🤞🏼 @joanboston

Thanks Jane, will be interesting to see how well it looks as the plant gets bigger with more flowers @pelly

Well obvs! I wouldn’t expect anything less 😆💗 @juliesgarden

I love the white edge🤍

😂😂😂

It’s nice isn’t it? I’ve not seen them like that before. Shame it’s not a bit stronger but maybe it will be more visible as it starts producing more flowers. @Auricula

And the first flowers of the season from my seed grown hellebores from the Ashwood Nurseries seed I bought. Think this one flowered last year too. Still waiting for most of the 60 odd plants to show me what colour they are.

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhelleborenumber2 #richspicerhellebore

Beautiful flower 👍

Gorgeous markings 💕

Gorgeous☺️

Beauty, absolute stunner!!

Amazing flower 😍

That’s a beauty Richard!

Wow that’s a stunner 💛💗

How exciting! Fruits from your labor. 👏🌞

That's pretty

Heavenly hellebore! 😍

And today I should have been studying but as the sun was out I couldn’t resist doing another couple of hours. Lawn was very soggy though, had to stand on boards. Managed to cut back all the hellebore leaves from all my seedlings, and pleased to see that almost all of them have buds coming up, so can finally make some decisions on which to keep and where their permanent homes might be. I want to group certain colours together. Also did some weeding in the same bed

Looks great...now get back to studying 🤪

You've been busy. Looks great.

Time spent well in the garden - I think we will have to get used to working in soggy conditions if we have another wet winter💧

That’s amazing- how long did it take for them to get to that size?

This is very exciting!

🤪 I know, it’s been the worst time to get the gardening bug back, as all I want to do is be out in the garden @crabby58

Thank you Susan 🙂 nice to tackle little jobs one by one @novicegardenlover

Yes, the rain certainly has been heavy this autumn, kinda used to being outside now in the wet 🙄☔️ @Auricula

Thanks Sharon 🙂 they should be a bit bigger really but I’ve had them stuck in pots for longer than necessary. They are about 4 years old now @sharonhayden

Indeed - can’t wait! @Hellebore

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

I’m so over the moon about my seed grown hellebores, already got some gorgeous colours and patterns coming through. My favs so far are top left and right, and middle row second from left #hellebore #helleborus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #helleborusxhybridus #richspicerhellebore

Oh who am I kidding, I love them all! 😆😍

No comment hahah T O P

They're all lovely💓💛💜

Great collection😍

I love them all too, they're beautiful

Ohh, I !I've then all 💗💗💗

Wow those are all amazing. Hard to pick a favorite 😍

Oh wow that’s an awesome collection.....my favourite is top left...middle in from right 2 and bottom in from right 2 💗

Amazing 👏

They're all lovely.

Like asking someone to pick their favourite child - impossible.

Absolutely delighted to see some of my hellebores that I’ve been growing from seed for three years are starting to flower. Hoping for a very good mix of colours and markings, as Ashwood Nurseries has a good reputation for Hellebores. Strangely, you can’t seem to buy their seed anymore, so I must have been one of the last to get it 🤗 - I need to record the colours on each one somehow with a label so I don’t lose them, and there’s about 80! 😆 let’s call this number 1.... #hellebore #helleborus

#helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhelleborenumber1 #richspicerhellebore

I have this one (I think looks very similar petal I never keep labels but should clearly 😂) it’s gorgeous! Proper stops you in your tracks 😁

Thanks Caroline 😊 @cazstaks - these are all seed grown so wasn’t sure what they would end up looking like so thrilled they look so good

Look fantastic I would never think to grow them from seed. I do love growing from seed but don’t have a green house and the conservatory/dinning room get over run from Jan to May as it is 😂😂😂

Awesome 🤩

Welcome no 1.ti lists and lists of plants, I got several lists. Still listing like a drunk pirate, wonkey legs after shoveling a gazillion tonnes of snow

Stunning well done - you have so much patience @cazstaks I think they will grow in the cold - I have loads of seedlings coming up

I have tried to grow from seed without success so wait for seedlings around mature plants. Have a few I’m hoping will flower this year🤞🤞

I tried growing hellebores from seed but none have germinated. I think I might order one as a plant instead (worryingly, I'm starting to get used to paying postage fees and have not stopped buying plants during the lockdown...) I hope you get a good mix of colours. Well done Rich!

I've never grown them from seed but I'm sure I've had a few that have self seeded over the years 😄

@sharonhayden oh well I will try and collect some seeds this year. My sister said they self sees in her garden and she gets seedlings but mine never has 🤔 it flowers lovely. I have bought two new ones this year so will look out for seed heads

Very excited about this too - I’ve been growing these Hellebores from seed for about three years. They are a special mix of seed from Ashwood Nurseries, and I almost lost all of them in a storm a couple of years ago after gales pulled down my mini growhouse and threw the seedlings everywhere. Picked up every single one and replanted them, and most of them survived! 💚

There are about 80 plants - they were supposed to be planted under my cherry tree but sadly the tree needs an arborist visit next year for some major work and I was worried the guys would trample all over these babies. So they are planted here temp under the laburnum. I’ve been using 9cm deep pots - fantastic for plants like hellebores that grow deep roots. I’ve sunken them into the soil for now to keep them secure over winter. And I think I see flower buds for the first time on quite a few! 🤗

Will finally get to see some of the colours! #isurvivedthestormwithnoname #thestormwithnoname

The dedication is paying off the 👍

Absolutely fabulous results, great gardening determination, tips hat

That's incredible Rich! Way to go! 💘😍

Will they flower in spring Richard? They take such a long time don’t they?

Maybe not all of them, but I think a number of them will Joan. I can see buds on quite a few 😃 @joanboston

Thank you Shelley 😄🙏🏼💚 @ShelleySnyder

Aw thanks Aly! 💚💚 hope I get some good colours @thehardygardener

My pleasure Rich!💘😍

Thanks Jason! 💚 can’t wait to see all the colours - it may have taken a long time, but think I’ve saved some pennies still as they are so expensive to buy I noticed. @hebelover

Progress pick on the hellebore seedlings. This is still last years growth, but when I looked closely this years growth is just starting to emerge. Not sure if I should cut off this foliage when they are so young - any tips? I know you do on mature plants but these are still seedlings #isurvivedthestormwithnoname #thestormwithnoname

Would only remove dead, diseased or dying foliage. Rest is still feeding plant.

Wow, how many?? 👋👋👋

Are you opening a nursery 🤫 what time are you open, I will be first in the queue 😉😍

Have you got enough there Rich? 😂😂😂

I'd remove yellowed or dead foliage as they're not doing much in terms of feeding the plant. Don't plants need chlorophyll to produce glucose?

Thanks Terry 😊👍🏼 - that’s what I was thinking. @moore.794 - good ol’ three D’s

Lol! Well, I didn’t want to waste all the seedlings, and seeing as they are expensive to buy then I’ve kept them all 😂 there’s about 80 here. Will fill up the woodland walk quite nicely I reckon. @debs69 @suerichards @pelly

Thanks Lin - I think most of these are two years old, small number three years. I’ll do as suggested above, and leave the healthy ones for now. I’m not expecting flowers yet so no real need to cut them off yet @linfoster

They do @ublaszko . I’ll wait till it’s a bit drier for a couple of days and cut off anything that’s not green 👍🏼

They will look lovely there 👍😍

@richard.spicer.7906 .......... Wonderful collection Richard ........ I'm no expert , but I wouldn't cut too much off just yet ......... in Hellebore terms they are still babies .......... more photos please as they progress .

Its been a year since these hellebore seedlings germinated, and were rescued from #thestormwithnoname - they are looking a bit rough and ready as they wake up, but still hoping I get one to live to flowering stage. I think I might need to give them a bit of a feed to wake them up properly 🤔

#hellebore-seedlings #hellebore #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

Your nursery area must be huge!?

Your garden must be so interesting. Well done you 👏👏👏😍

Fabulous collection Richard 🤗💚

Wowsers Rich that’s loads of plants you will have an awesome display 🤓

Well done Richard, I’ve tried lots of times but with no success. Patience is the way I think

They will grow new leaves soon and bulk up. Yay!!! That's going to be a gorgeous collection! Just 3 more years 😅😅👍 Have you fed them in autumn or are you going to do it in spring? I saw my Christmas hellebore has seedheads developing but the downside of my garden is that it is too small to grow multiples of the same plant. If I did that I wouldn't be able to add new varieties. I'm not a big fan of contemporary gardens in which you have big blocks of the same plant. 😊

Nice one Rich. From my experience I reckon you'll get about 75% to flowing age from where they are now👍

It’s mostly all of the polytunnel, and a couple of beds outside it. This is only half of the hellebores 😂 @brightcolours

Interesting is a good word Sue 😉 - Its got very neglected beyond the polytunnel, and it’s in serious need of a revamp, which I’ll start after my first exams are over in Feb @suerichards

Thanks Michelle 😊 @mich

And here are the hellebore seedlings, pic also taken on Sunday - At the time, I had sifted through all the dirt for every single one I could find (including ungerminated seeds) and potted them up all individually into plugs - I think it must be about 140 or so in total. Was surprised how tough the seed leaves/roots were, not sure I would have been as lucky if it were something else, but they have all perked up very well 👍🏼 - even some of the ungerminated seeds are now germinating 🙂

#hellebore #hellebore-seedlings #isurvivedthestormwithnoname 🌱💪🏼 #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

That’s brilliant news Rich. 👍👍

Wow! Fantastic results Rich 👌

Well done! You must be so pleased, Rich. @richard.spicer.7906 😘

I’m so glad!!

Oh well done Rich, 👏👏👏 I failed miserably 😬

Great news Rich so pleased for you 😄

Awh fab rescue mission Richard! And all the more special because of it! (I saved some hellebore seeds, nothing germinated for 6 months and I forgot to throw them out - glad I didn’t as they eventually did germinate!) #keepthefaith

Good job👍

Aww that’s fantastic Rich so pleased for you 💟💟

Fantastic 😊 the Phoenix rises up through the ashes

It pays to NOT throw away your old attempted sown Hellebore seed. These were sown 18 months ago and have now gone through two winters - I covered them this year in late summer with polythene to increase the humidity, as I read online that Hellebore seeds germinate better if humidity is kept higher otherwise they can have a deep dormancy phase. Then as the temp drops in December they should start germinating - well look at the results!! 😀🌱 almost all of the original 80 seeds have germinated 😳

#Hellebore #seedsowing #advice-hellebore #seedling #seeds-hellebore #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

Excellent just goes to show gardening is all about patience 😁

That is fantastic!

Wow! Perseverance and patience! Well done 👍🏼

👍👍👍👍

Here’s mine from last year Jane, for comparison. They are slow growers so they may look like this for a while 👍🏼 @pelly

They definitely look like one of mine and I've just seen the advice about increasing the humidity in late summer, something to remember if I manage to get any more seeds next year. Thanks again 👍😘

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

Here’s some examples of seedlings Laura for comparison if that helps 😊 @columbiariver

Second batch of Hellebore seeds sown last weekend 👍🏼 - learnt my lesson last year, where I had a poor first winter germination rate. I think I sowed them too late (end of September instead of July), and they should be sown very fresh. However, I've not thrown the first batch away (they are on the shelf below). There's a chance some will still germinate this winter. I've put some plastic over them to try and keep the humidity up, which apparently helps.

#Hellebore #seedsowing #advice-hellebore #seeds-hellebore #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

You have so much patience! 👍🏼

Wow Rich you have been busy again. Fingers crossed this time . I'm sure they will succeed 👍👍

Lol - I'm smiling to myself as when I first glimpsed at this I thought you had made some lollies & about to pop them in the freezer! 😩

Ah you've just saved me throwing out my seeds that I sowed, must have more patience 😂

Patience definitely a must with hellebores 😆 @rachelbrooks @carolecuttingitfine @linfoster

@janeatkin 😂 now you mention it, yeah it does look like I'm making lollies! 🍭

Really hope so Pearl - time will tell 😊 @fuschia

More than I have for sure! 😬😉

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

Very surprised to see these Hellebore seeds just starting to germinate 😀 - it's so cold outside too. I have them in my growhouse with the cover off 😯. First of about 80 seeds!! #newgrowth #seedling #hellebore #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

Ashwood hellebores have good colours @richard.spicer.7906

Haha 😂 - well I did wonder what would happen if they all germinated! I guess I was presuming I'd only get a couple. If they all germinate then I may have to pass some on 😊 @gjones

They certainly do @Chester14 - did a bit of research before I bought and definitely preferred Ashwood's selection of colours. I would have bought plants but I didn't realise how expensive hellebores can be. At least seeds were much cheaper and I'll have more satisfaction in growing them 😀

#hellebore #helleborus #helleborusxhybridus #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids #richspicerhellebore

Fingers crossed these will germinate - 80(ish) Hellebore seeds sowed on 25th September. One pot for each colour 😉 - I hope I'm not too late as I think the advice I found on the net suggests sowing between July and August. Oh well, lets see what happens! #seeds #seeds-hellebore #seedsowing #hellebore #helleborusashwoodgardenhybrids

😊👍🏻🍀

Yay !, fingers and toes crossed Richard 😉😉

Like the labels looking very pro 👌🕵🏻fingers cross. Do you have them on a heated pad?

I'm definitely going to have to get one of those label making machines! 😀

Good morning Richard @richard.spicer.7906 Good luck with your seeds fingers crossed for you, I can see all 80 ish growing. Have a lovely day 🙂

No sign of mine yet and I planted in august 🤔

I couldn't believe the other day at the garden centre they had pots of them already in flower 😳

Are hellebore slow growing or is it just mine? 🤔

Morning Justin, I think they are very slow to germinate so don't hold your breath! A friend gave me a clump of hellebores and there were some seedlings which I potted up. That was last year and they have barely grown at all. Look healthy though.

Have faith! 👍🏼 🌱🌱🌱although does sound like they are slow starters!

#plantlabel