Marianne's Response

divide hellebores

My Hellebores have looked really good for several years until this year. They have bloomed, but are a lot smaller plant this year. Do I need to divide them? Thank you!

Posted by Kathy Strain on March 8, 2019

Marianne's Response

No! Unlike most perennials hellebores do not like to be divided and suffer if you attempt to split them apart. They are like peonies as they both have thick roots that do not like to be disturbed. Perhaps a lack of water last summer or poor soil is contributing to the small size. This spring spread a capful of Osmocote around each plant and mulch the area around the roots with wood chips, compost or some other organic mulch to keep the roots cool this summer. During the dry months soak the soil once a week but try not to wet the foliage of your hellebores as they are prone to leaf blights. In the winter just before or during the bloom time remove all the old leaves both to see the blooms better and to cut down on leaf blights and other fungal infections that overwinter on old foliage.  After all this pampering I predict a bountiful of heavenly hellebore blooms on large and healthy plants. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti