Like a diamond in the rough, this hellebore shines in early spring with its dramatic slate purple to near-black, single blossoms measuring about 2-2½" across. After setting seed, the petals turn a unique shade of slate green, continuing the interest long after the plants have finished blooming. The flowers are downward facing like most hellebores.
The new foliage of this deep purple-black flowering selection is purple when it emerges in early spring before it matures into a lovely shade of green.
'Black Diamond' was hybridized by Marietta O'Byrne of Eugene, Oregon. Marietta has spent over 15 years pursuing her passion for hellebores, meticulously selecting and hand-crossing only the best stock plants which she has gathered from around the world.
Remaining true to her German heritage, Marietta is very precise in her methods, keeping detailed breeding records and exact labels on all of her crosses, and maintaining excellent cultural practices. Her goal is to develop true color strains of hellebores which are vigorous growers and produce large 2-3inch diameter flowers with a rounded form. Only the most profuse bloomers make the cut in Marietta's breeding work.
Hellebores are the harbingers of spring, blooming for six weeks or more beginning in late winter. They are often flowering during the Christian season of Lent, from which they get their common name, Lenten Rose. This is the perfect plant for naturalizing in moist, woodland areas where its extensive root system will spread as far as it is allowed.
Breeder: Marietta O'Byrne
