There is something special about a plant that chooses to flower at the harshest time of the year, with blooms the size of any summer-flowering plant. Perhaps this is why winter flowering plants such as hellebores and snowdrops attract collectors and fanatics (in the nicest way). Although I suppose there are the same for summer plants such as dahlias, chrysanthemums, roses etc.
It is testament to the adaptability of hellebores that they do so well in such a range of climates away from the ones they evolved in. Many species in the wild can be found on the edges of woodland, on scrubby slopes, limestone soils, often dry and well draining, some even in Mediterranean mountains. Yet they will grow in many soils apart from the wettest or the driest and sunniest.
Not only do they flower in winter but their seed also germinates over the winter months, from November onwards. What plant chooses to spend their most vulnerable time during the coldest, wettest months of the year? (Although where they come from originally is not as wet as the UK but gets more snow).
I am looking at the hereditary genetics behind flower colour, patterns, shapes and other traits of hellebores, to see if any are dominant or recessive. Understanding how the genes for each trait interact should make it easier to choose parents to get a flower of a particular appearance. If this kind of study has been done before, it has not been documented, although I am sure there are experienced hellebore breeders out there who have a pretty good idea by now what they might get when they cross two plants. My first seedlings will hopefully flower in 2025. Things should get really interesting from 2026.
