I'd appreciate the thoughts of anyone who's grown the three I know about: Walberton's Rosemary ('Walhero') from David Tristram, 'Snow White' from Japan (aka 'Snow Bunting' - but not the 'Snow Bunting' sold by Heronswood), and the French plant known as H. x lemmonierae.

And of course if anyone knows of any others - I'd be most interested.

Finally, does anyone have any thoughts on why it's so difficult to cross these two species?

Many thanks,

Graham Rice

BTW I posted about Walberton's Rosemary ('Walhero') here:
http://transatlanticplantsman.typepad.com/transatlantic_plantsman/2009/03/hybrid-hellebore-on-trial.html

And frankly, I am very flattered that someone of your reputation and experience with hellebores would look to us amateur/hobby gardeners here on GW for thoughts on why niger and x hybridus are so difficult to cross! I doubt any of us could tell you anything you don't already know :-) I am not a hybridizer by any stretch of the imagination - just an avid grower that reads alot - but it appears that neither of these plants lends itself to crossing with other species/hybrids. I've often wondered about this, as it seems most other species of hellebores cross quite easily.