In the garden: helleborus sternii

helleborus sternii

This the most subtle of the hellebores in my garden, but very elegant. The purple stems and glaucous leaves are the main attraction, but the flowers are nice when they show up. It does very well in a neglected corner of the yard in rather dry shade, and looks good when everything else is still flat and muddy.

Published in: on January 19, 2008 at 7:32 pm
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6 Comments Leave a comment.

  1. On March 7, 2008 at 8:32 am clby1knobi Said:

    Luckily many of your plants seem to have shaken the winter doldrums. Here in SE Pennsylvania I have just seen the first Hellebore bloom of the season. My H. x nigercors ‘Green Heron’ just started to bloom. I can’t wait for the others! I picked up some ‘Ivory Prince’ that I am excited about too!!

    Great Photos!

    Pennsylvania Horticulturist Blog

  2. On March 7, 2008 at 9:21 am Jessamyn Said:

    Thanks! All my hellebores are in full swing now, including some self-sowed orientals - I love seeing how they turn out. My “Ivory Prince” is sulking, though - it had to be moved last summer to make way for house painters and it didn’t approve.

  3. On March 9, 2008 at 11:56 pm Uta Said:

    My Helleboris sterni is not open till now. Unfortunatly it has always brown spots. Maybe the place I planted is to dark.

  4. On March 10, 2008 at 7:20 am Jessamyn Said:

    Uta,

    sternii likes it a bit brighter than other hellebores, either full sun or light shade. I have mine in a partial-sun area that stays quite dry and it seems to do pretty well.

  5. On March 11, 2008 at 8:24 am thebench Said:

    Very lovely picture. You should take a look at Heronswood Nursery, it has a huge selection of Hellebores I’m sure you’ll love.

  6. On March 11, 2008 at 8:30 am Jessamyn Said:

    thebench,

    Thanks! Actually, nearly all my hellebores are from the old Heronswood in Kingston, WA - we used to go to their Hellebore Open Day every year. Sternii is one of the few exceptions - I got it at the NW Horticultural Society plant sale. At this point, though, I’m trying not to acquire too many new plants!

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