Helleborus 'hybridus'
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
Plants were in good shape on arrival but small and late.
Year 2:
Unusual flower, incredible vase life, very early.
Problems:
Year 1:
Plant’s were shipped in Aug.
Year 2:
These very small plants were grown in pots and wintered over in cold frame, they did not survive the winter in frame (Zone 5); Be great if they were a little taller and if all plants held their flowers out, not hanging down; No harvestable flowers, I think I may not have the proper site for this plant; Could have been stress from heat.
Postharvest:
Year 1:
Year 2:
Harvest mature flowers. Editor's note: See separate article in this issue on postharvest of hellebores.
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants flowering (%) | Plants dead at end of summer (%) | Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 0 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Range of Responses | 0 | 0-33 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | Average Spacing (in2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 61 | 0.5 | 13.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | 0-1 | 12-14 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1-5 | 1-5 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Sunshine Farm & Garden (SF)
HC 67 Box 539 B
Renick, WV 24966
304-497-2208
FAX 304-497-2698
www.sunfarm.com/tour/
Comments:
Year 1:
Planted out to field on 10/13/03 with only 4 inches of growth; Very small fragile plants, arrived too late to plant outside, growing in pots will winter over in cold frame; 2 very small plants are in 1 gallon pots waiting to be transplanted.
Year 2: