Helleborus purpurascens ex. Carpathian Mts.

Description

The time has come for Helleborus 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 a few seeds found by chance in the wild, flowering well in the garden. This species in increasingly rare in the wild; growing from seeds it is also a matter of conservation at this point.

 The greenish-slate gray with back dusted purple flowers are simply 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 of stratification followed by cold/moist stratification in order to germinate. Seeds sown in late summer (by July/August, depending on the region) will germinate in the next 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.

The mother plant grows isolated from other Helleborus and also a brush has been used to ensure self pollination but surprises are still possible.