Those Amazing Hellebores
Helleborus orientalis, the varieties found in most gardens, are actually 'hybrids.' The species orientalis is quite hard to grow while the vigor of the hybrids make them easy for the average gardener. Helen Ballard, also known as the Hellebore Queen, is responsible for a resurgence of interest in Hellebores and the breeding of many new hybrid strains. When she died at age 86 many of her secrets were passed on to Gisela Schiemann, of Cologne Germany.
Many of the new hybrid strains growing in my garden come from Ernie and Marietta O'Bryne, owners of Northwest Garden Nursery located outside of Eugene, Oregon. The O'Brynes specialize in hard to find perennials and have been growing and breeding Hellebores. Many of their original seeds have come from their many visits to the Balkans, including visits with Gisela Schiemann.
When I asked them what they looked for in their seedlings they told me they are particularly interested in seedlings with white flowers and red veins and apricot with red on the outside edges and good yellows. They are also looking for larger flowers with round petals that overlap rather than pointed or star shaped petals. Several of their seedlings have out facing blooms, making them more visible than the down facing blooms. Other characteristics they look for are leaves with good substance, strong stems, that hold the flowers up from the ground.
When they have selected the two best seedlings with the characterisics and coloring they are looking for, such as the best blacks and the best yellows, they hand pollinate them and plant them together in the garden. This increases the chances of getting good seed. They find this method better that planting them in rows or on tables as they are easy to get too and can be tended along with their other plants growing in their extensive display gardens. The seed is then gathered and the resulting plants are sold from the color of the mother plants. When they are further along on their breeding program they might start to name them. Sometimes you take a chance with these plants but, at the same time you might find the seedling you bought is superior to anything else in that color range.
The O'Byrnes grow many other types of Hellebores, including 'sternii' a hybrid between lividis and argutifolius. Lividis, a native of Majorca, is best best grown in the
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