I would like to grow Lenten Rose (Hellebore) as a groundcover for shade, but can afford to buy the expensive plants. Can it be grown from seeds?
It can, but like many perennials, the fun is in the cultivars (cultivated varieties) which often don’t come true from seed. If you’re willing to see what you get, and wait (often this takes 2 years or more to germinate), give it a try. These seeds often have “double dormancy”, meaning they need to be sown and kept moist and cool (40F), warm (60F), then cool and warm again, each for about 2-3 months–hence the 2 years. The Hellebore or Lenten Rose is quite popular now, with many new cultivars, but keep away from children as it is poisonous.
