Read the "What's YOUR method of growing Hellebores from seed", chain on this forum. Get them planted without delay, they should be perfectly viable now. I do feel that when they are harvested early, it's important to get them planted without delay, as they dry out rather quickly and get slightly (prune like) shrivelled.

Cheers Greenmanplants

Hi Chasmanthe,
I just got back from visiting a friend who started with two hellebores. Both seem to self-seed nicely and she has the beginnings of a colony. But get them in the ground as fresh as possible.

Haven't forgotten about the asclepias. Hope you haven't forgotten the epis! :-)

Sheila

I sowed seeds from my own plants last June, just as they were ripe from the plant. Lots of patience needed though, they finally germinated in MArch, by which point the seed tray had lost it's label (DOH!) and it was only a couple of weeks ago when the first 'true' leaves came through that I realised what they were. They had virtually all germinated, so that was pleasing. I just read though that they take 3 to 4 years to flower!
Well thats my story. Perhaps it is different in California!
Happy gardening
Bina