Hellebores, always staring at their feet

I’ve just finished tidying up my Hellebore border. Last year I moved a few extra plants into it from somewhere else in the garden and I decided to check if they were marked up properly. Yes, I label all my plants otherwise I’d forget where they were, especially if they die back in winter. I also have them listed in an Excel spreadsheet. “Oh… how pedantic and nerdy” you say. Well, there were over 600 plants at the last count, and even allowing for duplications that’s too many for me to keep track of in my head. Anyway onto the hellebores, one of the wonders of the winter garden.

I’ve always loved them and to be honest the fact that their flowers hang down only adds to their charm. Until you lift one up you can never be sure what you’re going to see - an unexpected green flush , heavy speckling or a rich dark purple blue etc. Four of them were bought in 1986 and came from Helen Ballard’s Nursery at Malvern, Worcestershire. They all cross pollinate and seed like mad so I let them get on with it. Not many seedlings actually reach flowering stage as the border is quite crowded but I have had a few succeed. If the flowers are attractive I leave the plants alone.

This is one of the original Ballard ‘Blue’ hybrids. It’s a lovely combination of dark purple and slate grey/blue. The pale yellow centre provides a strong contrast. I think both the plain coloured and the speckled varieties are equally attractive. Breeders have spent many years trying to produce plants with raised, outward looking flower heads and I can see their point. Who wouldn’t want to look at beauties like these. Apparently the only colours which have not been bred true are an apricot and a real blue. Mind you that comment may be already out of date. Below is another of the original Ballard plants.