Helleborus purpurascens ex. Carpathian Mts.

Description

The time has come for H. purpurascens, grown from wild collected seeds in the Carpathian Mts., to reward us with seeds. Nothing is more satisfying than to see plants grown from few seeds found by chance doing well in the garden. This species in increasingly rare in the wild; growing it in the garden it is also a matter of conservation at this point.

 The greenish-slate gray with back dusted purple flowers are exquisite!

As Graham Rice, the authority of the genus says, this is “one of the most captivating species for its engaging habit of flowering so enthusiastically, for its subtle metallic tints…” and quite a few other qualities, the deciduous foliage in particular.
A very interesting species regarding its growing habitat too – as you can see in the gallery, it grows perfectly well in full sun meadows at sub-alpine level but also under shade, usually in old Fagus sylvatica woods.

Germination: Helleborus seeds require a warm moist period followed by colder temperatures in order to germinate. Seeds sown in late summer (by July/August, depending on the region) will germinate in the spring; those sown later in the fall/winter will germinate in the second spring after sowing.
Please read for more details: Growing Helleborus from seeds.