hellebore aphid
This large white aphid is specific to hellebores. It attacks the underside of the new leaves and flowers in early spring before most of the predators arrive to dispatch them. The honey dew they exude can cause sooty mould so squash any that you see as soon as they appear; this should help prevent a build-up in the population. If the problem persists, use a physical insecticide such as SB plant invigorator, this should not harm the beneficial insects that will both predate on the aphids and pollinate the flowers.
hellebore leaf miner
This pest only attacks Helleborus foetidus, burrowing through the leaf tissue and leaving brown streaks. While unsightly it will rarely kill the plant, so the best control is to remove and destroy affected leaves in late winter before the miners have pupated and laid a new generation.
hellebore leaf spot
A fungal disease that is very common on most varieties of hellebore. It is particularly bad in damp conditions and appears as brown blotches on the leaves, spreading to the stems and even the flowers. Remove all affected leaves in the late winter and pick up any rotted leaves that might be spreading fungal spores.
hellebore black death
This is a fairly recently arrived virus disease that attacks in late spring causing black streaks on the flowers, stems and leaves and eventually killing the plant. Helleborus orientalis or hybrids are particularly prone to this disease. Remove affected plants straight away and try growing more resistant species.
why are my hellebores not flowering?
If these are young plants that have grown from seed, they can take three or four years to get to flowering stage. If they were bought in flower during the summer, it may be that they were forced artificially, and so will take a season or two to settle into their natural season of winter flowering. If they are growing in a pot, they could be pot bound and need to be potted on into fresh compost. If they have recently been divided, they may take a while to re-establish.
why are my hellebores dying?
If you are growing them in a pot, they might be suffering from drought, drowning or too much heat at the root. Try to find a shady spot for the pot and ensure a regular watering regime. Alternatively, you could be unlucky and have been visited by the Hellebore black death (see above) which is as terminal as it sounds, so destroy the plant immediately.
