I just thought I’d show you these two plates of new hellebores raised by Thierry Delabroye in France. He’s the man who developed heucheras like ‘Caramel’, ‘Tiramisu’ and the splendid ‘Citronelle’ as well as other fine perennials. Now, he’s turned his hand to hellebores and these two plates show some of the results. Click on each to see a much enlarged version. No news, yet, on when these will be available.

All the best hellebores used to be bred in Britain, starting with Elizabeth Strangman and Hellen Ballard. Then in recent years American breeders like Marietta O’Byrne at North West Garden Nursery and Judith Knott Tyler at Pine Knot Farms have taken center stage.

Now it’s back to Europe with Joseph Heuger in Germany raising some fine hybrids of H. niger, as have David Tristram, and Kevin Belcher at Ashwood Nurseries in Britain, plus there's the new interspecific hybrid from Holland I featured a few weeks ago.

And now these lovely new plants from Thierry Delabroye – who also has the first scented form of H. x hybridus (right, click to enlarge).

Special thanks to Luc Klinkhamer for the use of his splendid pictures.