Anyone have experience with hellebores?

[spinbaby]

The deer ate my hostas again even though I doused them in Liquid Fence, so I was poking around the internets looking for a shade perennial that deer don’t like. Helleborus seems to fit the bill, but I have no experience with them. I know that they bloom in very early spring and actually seem to look spectacular When they bloom, but have no idea if they look presentable through the summer.

[samnsara]

1. is liquid fence the same as Deer Off?

[spinbaby]

2. Probably

Spray bottle, smells kind of like fermented coyote urine with garlic.

[RainCaster]

3. Helebores are great bloomers

Don't get quite as large as hostas, but there is a larger variety of bloom colors.

I haven't had any problems with the deer eating our hostas (or helebores for that matter), it seems that ours come on about the same time as the wild blackberries & salmonberries, which they prefer.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. We used Pepper Spray to fend off

Deer on our Hosta's. You have to redo your application after a Rain. But,pepperspray we found worked the best.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Have you tried a systemic repellent?

It makes the plants taste bad. Repellex is an example:
https://www.amazon.com/Repellex-20003-150-Count-Systemic-Repellent/dp/B0052OX0C4

[spinbaby]

6. I'm not that attached to the hostas

They’re plain green hostas that came with the house. I’d rather replace them than fuss with deer repellent.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

7. Unless you pony up for the expensive newer hybrids, the flowers, while nice, aren't that impressive.

Of course, nor are they on hostas. But if you mass hostas it can give a nice floral effect. And my plain green ones have the best purple flowers.

The main problem with most hellebore blooms being that they face down. Would be better on a retaining wall or some elevation where the flowers become more visible.

Like many hostas, hellebores do tend to reseed themselves, which is great if you want to fill an area. Can make a pretty good tallish groundcover in a relatively shady area.

As far as I know the deer don't eat my hostas (though I know they do in many cases), but the voles do. And I don't believe the voles touch the hellebores.

[spinbaby]

8. Thanks for the info

I’d settle for a tallish ground cover as long as the deer don’t eat it. Some of the hybrids are gorgeous, but also breathtakingly expensive. Do you have any experience dividing them? I’m wondering if I can buy just one or two and divide it after a couple of years. I’m cheap, but I’m also patient.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

9. Buying-one-or-two-and-planning-to-divide-or-propagate-by-cuttings

is my middle name.

I've had a good large patch of hellebores for so long that it's hard for me to remember exactly what I've done with them! I'm sure I must have divided some in the early days, but they've reseeded themselves so thoroughly over time that I actually have to weed them out now.

I do have a few of the fancier ones that aren't established enough yet to divide. Maybe after this coming winter's bloom. Supposedly just afterward is the best time. Though, I know I didn't stick to that rule in the past. But, I'd be more careful with the special ones.

The common belief seems to be that you can't propagate them by cuttings and seeds don't come true to the parent. So dividing would be the only way to get more of the fancy, super-expensive ones. They say you don't want to do it unless the plant is big enough so that each division has several eyes. So, yeah, patience would be a necessary virtue.

You've got me thinking that I'm missing a good opportunity by throwing the unwanted seedlings on the compost pile. I have some areas where it would be great to have a hellebore ground cover. Not that I haven't thought of it, but I can't keep up with all my garden chores as it is, and chucking them is just easier. However, considering that ground covers can keep the weeds down, it might be worth it to take the time to transplant the seedling clumps.

[spinbaby]

10. Thanks!

I’m eyeing a variety called Ivory Prince, which I suspect I’ll have to mail order, although I’ll check local nurseries first.

[spinbaby]

11. An update

I bit the bullet and invested in half a dozen Pink Frost hellebores. They’ve arrived safely and tomorrow morning I plant them with a great deal of compost.