hellebore pruning

(Easton, Maryland)

I have several large Hellebore plants (in mid-Atlantic Maryland) that were ready to bloom but were cut back severely by a garden helper who did not know what they were. The little blooms are there still and the plants look as though they will bloom, but most of the leaves are gone. My question is: do the plants require any extra care this Spring? Other than keeping them away from my garden helper that is!

Doug says that removing the leaves isn't a problem. That happens naturally in colder climates where the overwintering leaves are frozen right off. The flower buds come up anyway and look better without all that old foliage.

There is a pruning style for this plant that does this even in warmer areas such as yours. Prune off the older leaves, allow the flowers to come up and then the leaves will regrow after blooming. You can see the flowers better this way. So your "helper" wasn't wrong even if they didn't know it.

As for special care - just toss a shovel of compost around the plant. That's all it needs in the worst or best of times.

Here's the article on growing Hellebore or Christmas Rose