It is great you like the plant as is - IME, variegated hellebores are much less likley to bloom heavily (if at all) and are far less robust than their all green counterparts. I have argutifolius 'Janet Starns', Pacific Frost' and a recent intro variegated foetidus (cultivar name escapes me) that are handsome plants but have yet to grow and bloom with the same abandon as other, non-variegated hellebores.

I would love to see a picture of the variegated leaves.
Mary

I wish I could post a picture. I'm a much better gardener than I am a computer user, and posting pics is beyond my skills.

Sounds pretty. I found this picture on the internet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sunmarble

Oh, that's a nice foliage plant! Will have to see if it shows up in one of our local nurseries, hehehe....yet one more plant to shoehorn into my garden!

Now that is beautiful. I would love to grow one.

The plant can be mail ordered from Sunshine Farm and Gardens.

I have two of them, too. The leaves are limp and have brown on the edges (not their best). But they certainly looked nice August to Jan (before the really cold weather set in).

How are yours doing, Laceyvail?

pontesmanny, my 'Sunmarble' is under the snow, but it had two buds on it last time I could see it, so I have high hopes.

I just received multiple 'Sunmarble' from Sunshine Farm & Gardens yesterday.... they are gorgeous! Healthy robust plants in 4" pots. I can surely see the H. lividus parentage in the foliage and red stems... I can't wait to see the H. niger parentage show through in hardiness and flower color!

One very happy customer of Barry's!

Lily

Laceyvail:
Where would I find the buds? The leaves have stalks that connect to a central stem almost at ground level. Currently, the plants are limp and laying on the ground. Are the buds right near the soil line?

Thanks

pontesmanny

The buds are about 2 inches above the soil line. It sounds as if yours won't bloom this season. But there's always next year.

laceyvail:

Thanks

pontesmanny

I have several new shoots coming up on the two plants of "Sunred" that I have. The two "Sunmarble" are not yet showing any signs of growth.

pontesmanny

Sorry guys but "sunmarble" is a marketing con. H ericsmithii has been around for years.It is highly variable and "sunmarble" actually isn't a particularly good example. All of the H. niger crosses are very beautiful and very variable.
Can I make a plea? Please don't buy micropropped dross but support real nurseries and plantsmen/women who recross every year to produce the many variations that make Helleborus such a fascinating tribe!
The UK has several nurseries who grow these hybrids and will send seed to the US

Sorry guys but "sunmarble" is a marketing con. H ericsmithii has been around for years.It is highly variable and "sunmarble" actually isn't a particularly good example. All of the H. niger crosses are very beautiful and very variable but of limited if any fertility.

H.sternii "ashwoods strain" is far prettier has variagated foliage and superb leaf form (ok the flowers aren't white they're pink and green) and has the advatage of being fully fertile.
I have grown some very interesting plants from variagated H. argutifolius.
Can I make a plea? Please don't buy micropropped dross but support real nurseries and plantsmen/women who recross every year to produce the many variations that make Helleborus such a fascinating tribe!
The Uk has several nurseries who grow these hybrids and will send seed to the US

Hellebore 'Sunmarble' on Ebay.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hellebore 'Sunmarble' Ebay

I'm very happy with my 'sunmarble,' but I bought it directly from Barry at a plant sale, so it didn't have to go through packing, shipping and mailing. Here's a picture, taken yesterday:

Photograph (c) 2006 Gardens by Julia

Thank you for the picture.

Addict, if you are still around, what are your favorite UK seed sources? (It is kind of fun to see your before and after editing!)