hellebore advice

[jennybain]

Hi - this is my first time growing hellebores and I wondered if someone could tell me if I should expect them to flower this year. I planted them in November in a shady but open position and although they look healthy enough, there is no sign of buds yet or much new leaf growth. They just seem to be sitting there and I am thinking maybe I have them in the wrong place.

Do they take time to establish and not produce flowers in the first year?? what should I expect?

[FionaH]

I may be wrong but I think they take till the second year to flower

[vicky]

It depends how old they were when you got them, I grew some from seed and I think it was their 3rd year they flowered. If you look closely you can see buds on mine now, but I'm south of you

[kentvegplot]

Might still be a bit early for you to expect buds, but also they can sulk for a while so just leave them be...also different varieties flower at different times, yours might be a later one anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

My 3 year old ones have now started to grow ... I am a bit south of you. They like a shady spot ... I guess that's easy enough in Scotland

[jennybain]

thanks for that - I will just need to be patient then. Looking forward to when they do start to flower.

[Alice]

Jenny, I grew helebores from seed in my last garden in West Dumbarton. They didn't flower until the second year but after that they flowered every year from Nov to May. They were fantastic and self seeded all over the place. Be patient and they will come good for you.

[allotmentlady]

Maybe not this year hunny but nomally start to flower May time........what colour have you got or dont you know yet?