Green Hellebore
Veratrum viride
zones 2-5
30 seeds
Green Hellebore is a native erect perennial herb found in the Rocky Mountain range. It grows in swamps, wet woods, meadows, forest, or natural areas in moist woods and along stream banks. All parts of the plant are poisonous if large amounts are ingested. The leaves are broad and strap-like, clasping at the base and with conspicuous parallel veins. The flowers appear in panicles of small, saucer-shaped, yellow-green blooms that dangle gracefully on arched stems. The plants need full to part shade and moist, rich soils. The plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds.
Since stored seed is more difficult to germinate, direct sowing seeds in autumn brings the most success. As long as you experience temperatures of 40 degrees F or below for a good part of the winter, Green Hellebore should have no trouble germinating.
If the seeds can’t be sown in autumn, they will need 3 months of cold, moist stratification. To stratify seeds indoors, mix them with a little moist soil in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Try to time the stratification so that it ends when temperatures are between 60-70 degrees F. Following sufficient stratification either sow the seed directly or in pots. At temperatures of 60-70 F, most of the seeds should germinate in about 3 weeks. You can often see some early germinators in the plastic bags in the refrigerator. This is a good sign that the seeds are ready to sow.
Veratrum viride
zones 2-5
30 seeds
Green Hellebore is a native erect perennial herb found in the Rocky Mountain range. It grows in swamps, wet woods, meadows, forest, or natural areas in moist woods and along stream banks. All parts of the plant are poisonous if large amounts are ingested. The leaves are broad and strap-like, clasping at the base and with conspicuous parallel veins. The flowers appear in panicles of small, saucer-shaped, yellow-green blooms that dangle gracefully on arched stems. The plants need full to part shade and moist, rich soils. The plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds.
Since stored seed is more difficult to germinate, direct sowing seeds in autumn brings the most success. As long as you experience temperatures of 40 degrees F or below for a good part of the winter, Green Hellebore should have no trouble germinating.
If the seeds can’t be sown in autumn, they will need 3 months of cold, moist stratification. To stratify seeds indoors, mix them with a little moist soil in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Try to time the stratification so that it ends when temperatures are between 60-70 degrees F. Following sufficient stratification either sow the seed directly or in pots. At temperatures of 60-70 F, most of the seeds should germinate in about 3 weeks. You can often see some early germinators in the plastic bags in the refrigerator. This is a good sign that the seeds are ready to sow.
Veratrum viride
zones 2-5
30 seeds
Green Hellebore is a native erect perennial herb found in the Rocky Mountain range. It grows in swamps, wet woods, meadows, forest, or natural areas in moist woods and along stream banks. All parts of the plant are poisonous if large amounts are ingested. The leaves are broad and strap-like, clasping at the base and with conspicuous parallel veins. The flowers appear in panicles of small, saucer-shaped, yellow-green blooms that dangle gracefully on arched stems. The plants need full to part shade and moist, rich soils. The plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds.
Since stored seed is more difficult to germinate, direct sowing seeds in autumn brings the most success. As long as you experience temperatures of 40 degrees F or below for a good part of the winter, Green Hellebore should have no trouble germinating.
If the seeds can’t be sown in autumn, they will need 3 months of cold, moist stratification. To stratify seeds indoors, mix them with a little moist soil in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Try to time the stratification so that it ends when temperatures are between 60-70 degrees F. Following sufficient stratification either sow the seed directly or in pots. At temperatures of 60-70 F, most of the seeds should germinate in about 3 weeks. You can often see some early germinators in the plastic bags in the refrigerator. This is a good sign that the seeds are ready to sow.