post t h e office farm specialists nursery

2 015 www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au MAIL ORDER CATALOGUE Welcome to our 2015 mail order catalogue.

A very mild Summer this year, which has been a relief after PO BOX 744 the extreme heat of last. The , like many of us have WOODEND appreciated the conditions. VICTORIA, 3442 PH. 5427 3227 Living in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria we know from personal experience that Hellebores really do well in this part of the world. However, it is always a pleasure to meet people from other parts of this country who have success with Hellebores Follow us on in very different climates. Last Spring we travelled to a Fair in Gosford, on the coast north of Sydney and spoke to many keen gardeners who had experienced success with Hellebores. Last year we supplied mail order Hellebores to a gentleman who gardens in the hills inland from Townsville and who was confident of success. And just last week we had a call from a lady in Alice Springs keen to give them a try. I look forward to reports of success or otherwise from gardeners such as these who are really pushing the boundaries of the Hellebore universe. The Nursery will be open to the public on Sundays over Winter again this year. For those who have not yet paid us a visit, I would encourage a trip to sunny Woodend over winter to see the Nursery at its best, when the Hellebores are in flower. We have tours of the nursery on every open day where you can learn how we grow our Hellebores and pick up some tips on how to grow your own. Lots of nice places to have lunch up here as well. We will be offering from this catalogue from April until the end of October. We suggest ordering earlier in the season if possible as the plants are ready to be planted out now and will become established quicker and be more likely to flower next season. To make the process of ordering plants run as smoothly as possible, please have a quick look at the mail order instructions on the order form. I hope you find something of interest in this catalogue. Peter Leigh March 2015

Detail from our nursery display bed

www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au 1 ABOUT OUR PLANTS HELLEBORE OPEN DAYS OPEN DAYS The Hellebores offered in this catalogue were grown from Post Office Farm Nursery will be open to the public every WHEN: careful hand pollination (in bee proof polyhouses) of our Sunday over the Winter and early Spring period again this Sundays only best stock plants. Our experience is that the combination year. Our Hellebore Open Days are not to be missed for (10am to 4pm) of deliberate selection of parent plants and hand those with an interest in Hellebores. pollination results in both better and more predictable June 7th to offspring than with ordinary seed grown Hellebores. Our See how we propagate and grow all of our Hellebores and September 27th aim is to produce H. x hybridus seedling ‘strains’ with the view an unmatched range of Hellebores available for sale. inclusive. most stable flower colour and form possible. We also This will include the one year old mail order sized plants as select for good clear colours and round-shaped flowers. well as a selection of superb flowering sized Hellebores in WHERE: bigger pots. 934 Ashbourne Rd, Unless otherwise stated, all photos in this catalogue are Woodend, Victoria. of our own plants and are intended to show what the Also every Sunday at 11am and 2pm there are nursery tours different varieties look like, as well as showing the quality with lots of information about how to get the best from of the parent plants from which the seedlings are bred. your Hellebores in the garden. We will also have our new However, as seed raised plants the seedlings will show Hellebore display bed looking good for the Open Days. some variability within the parameters of the ‘strain’, for example, the precise colour shade, foliage characteristics The Open Days coincide with the peak flowering time for and flower shape may vary within each strain. Hellebores. If you are looking for something specific we always recommend a phone call first. Our main breeding activity at the nursery is the continual improvement of each of the strains we offer. We grow on The nursery is just out of Woodend in the beautiful Macedon to flowering approximately 2,500 Hellebores each year. Ranges, an easy 1 hour drive from most parts of Melbourne. From these we select the best to add to our stock plants, as well as importing both plants and seed from the best overseas growers.

Directions from Melbourne: Kyneton from north: turn off

From the Calder Fwy (M79), at second

GUARANTEE Woodend exit

take the first Woodend

Woodend

exit. As you enter Woodend

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turn left at the traffic lights

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2 C ) C GIFT CERTIFICATES the right and we will have a ld e r a sign at the entry to the H The nursery is located from Melb: w We reckon one of our attractive new colour gift vouchers nursery. turn left at first y the hellebore specialists 9km from Ashbourne Rd Woodend exit makes the perfect present for any keen gardener. turnoff, 500m on the right n a m e after the creek crossing value Contact us by phone or email and we will send out the marked as a floodway. expiry voucher to your nominated recipient with a copy of our

address PO Box 744, Woodend, www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au Victoria 3442 phone 03 5427 3227 current Hellebore catalogue. Melb MoB 0419 883 879 weB

2 www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au 3 GROWING REQUIREMENTS FOR HELLEBORES ANNUAL MAINTENANCE GUIDE FOR HELLEBORES

We receive many requests for information Hellebores are not difficult to grow but about the conditions needed to successfully here are a few simple maintenance tips which grow Hellebores. So for those new to will keep you and your Hellebores happy. Hellebores, we provide the following summary of the climate, soil and position Late Autumn to early winter that Hellebores require to be at their best. This is the start of the annual growth period for most Hellebores. Climatically Hellebores will grow best if they experience For Helleborus x hybridus the old foliage should be removed some cold in winter. Summer heat is not a problem as when the new season’s growth can be seen pushing up long as conditions are not too humid. Hellebores are not from the underground rhizome. This will vary by climate troubled by frost or snow. and season but is usually between April and June. In terms of climatic conditions, anywhere in Victoria The May to June period is also the time to feed your and Tasmania is suitable. In NSW, coastal areas up Hellebores. Any type of complete fertiliser is suitable to about Newcastle are suitable. Inland and higher – liquid, powder or pellets – as long as it contains the altitude areas in NSW which experience cold winters, three main nutrient elements (N, P and K). As with other from around Canberra, through Orange and as far north members of the family (eg. Clematis, as the Queensland border are well suited to growing Delphiniums) Hellebores will take quite a lot of feeding. Hellebores. The suitable inland climatic range extends A sprinkling of dolomite lime will be appreciated by into Queensland at least as far as Toowoomba. In South Hellebores as well. Australia the more temperate climates between Mount If you need to move or divide your Hellebores then this Gambier and Adelaide are fine for Hellebores. is also the right time. Helleborus x hybridus are deep Helleborus x hybridus is the most adaptable of the rooted so be sure to dig quite deeply to avoid chopping off hellebores in terms of climate. The taller such as most of the roots. Large clumps of H. x hybridus can then H. argutifolius, H. x sternii and H. foetidus are less tolerant be divided with a sharp spade or large knife. The taller of humidity and so are less suited to more tropical species (H. argutifolius, H. foetidus, H. xsternii) cannot be climates. divided, but will usually produce lots of seedlings which you can move around during winter. Hellebores are tolerant of most soil types and soil pH also does not seem to be an issue for them. The main Spring and summer exception is very sandy soils where Hellebores usually struggle. In all soils the addition of organic matter in the All Hellebores will appreciate mulching in spring before form of compost will assist growth. the heat of summer sets in. Some additional summer watering will usually be necessary until plants become In the garden Hellebores will grow best if they receive fully established. shade for most of the day from the hot summer sun. The amount of sun they will tolerate will be influenced Spent flowers can be removed prior to seed dropping in by climate, so Hellebores in Tasmanian gardens can mid-spring if you don’t want lots of seedlings popping up tolerate more summer sun exposure than those in Albury. the following winter. Helleborus argutifolius and H. x sternii are the most sun For the taller growing species (H. argutifolius, H. foetidus, tolerant. Finally, growth and flowering will be improved H. xsternii) the old flowering stems should be removed if the plants receive at least some sun in winter, so a in spring. Watch for aphids as the weather warms up position under deciduous trees or where winter sun can in spring. Use whatever pesticide you prefer, but be reach them is ideal. prepared for multiple applications. 4 www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au 5 Helleborus X hybridus selections HELLEBORUS X HYBRIDUS Apricot Peach Spotted $8.50 ($7.50 for 3 or more) New for 2015. We have been playing around with SELECTIONS these for a few years and are confident enough now to offer as a distinct new strain. Similar base colour to the apricot-peach strain we have offered previously but with attractive burgundy spotting on the inside of the flower.

The Helleborus x hybridus selections listed in this section can vary a little in stature but typically reach about 45cm tall when in flower. When mature they will have a spread of around 60cm. Atrorubens hybrids $7.00 ($6.50 for 3 or more) Their foliage is evergreen and the main flowering period is from July to September, depending on climate and season. We suggest New for 2015. These are crosses with the delightful planting them about 60cm apart. and rare species Helleborus atrorubens. These hybrids have the subtle green and purple flower The plants in this catalogue are one year old seedlings grown in colour of the species but with a bit more vigour 75mm tubes. See photo on page 11 to get an idea of the size of these than pure atrorubens. A smaller and more subtle Hellebores. Under good growing conditions we would expect Hellebore which would associate well with other most of them to flower in winter 2016. woodland plants.

Black $8.50 ($7.50 for 3 or more) These are selected from crosses between our very darkest forms. Very dark purple to almost ‘black’, a mysterious colour found in few other garden plants. Many also have attractive dark coloured young foliage. These can become addictive.

Dark Pink $7.00 ($6.50 for 3 or more) These have been separated out from the pale pinks to offer as a distinct strain. They have mid to dark pink flowers, often with attractive darker coloured foliage, making for quite distinctive plants.

Helleborus x hybridus

6 www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au 7 Helleborus X hybridus selections Helleborus X hybridus selections

Double apricot peach $12.50 ($11.50 for 3 or more) Double green and purple bicolour $10.50 ($9.50 for 3 or more) We have been working on these for a few years now, combining our own seedlings with some The best of these have a green interior and purple nice plants we imported from Japan. These back to the flower which really do look stunning. will vary a bit, but are mostly apricot with some They will probably vary a bit in the proportions of peachy-pinky markings to the outside of the green and purple in the colouring, however, the petals. These are one of the most popular with results from ones we have flowered in past two visitors to our stockhouse, really lovely plants. years has been very good.

Double bicolour $12.50 ($11.50 for 3 or more) Double picotee $12.50 ($11.50 for 3 or more) Possibly our most stunning double flowered form, These are the offspring from some lovely plants we we owe these to the breeding work of Ernie and imported in 2009. Well shaped doubles with white Marietta O’Byrne in Oregon, USA. The back of the sepals delicately edged in burgundy. A stunning petals are a glossy dark pink to burgundy colour strain, I think a significant breeding improvement while the insides are a paler pink tinged white. on the plants we have offered under this name The overall effect is quite special we think. prior to 2012.

Double black $12.50 ($11.50 for 3 or more) Double primrose yellow $12.50 ($11.50 for 3 or more) Over the years we have probably been asked for these more than any other. Finally we have enough Lovely pale primrose doubles, still very rare all to make them available. Bred from our own plants around the world. This strain has been significantly in combination with some really lovely UK and improved of late by the inclusion of some lovely new Japanese imports. These will vary a bit but all imports into the breeding stock. Just superb and should be in very very dark and mysterious shades. one of my favourite doubles.

Double green $10.50 ($9.50 for 3 or more) Double primrose yellow spotted $12.50 ($11.50 for 3 or more) New for 2015. Has taken us a while to get sufficient numbers of these, but they really are one of our New for 2015. One of our latest breeding efforts favourites. Mid to pale green double flowers, many and really very special. These are good primrose with really striking burgundy spotting. Fits into any yellow doubles with superb contrasting reddish colour scheme in the garden. spots. Very rare and desirable.

8 www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au 9 Helleborus X hybridus selections post Double purple $10.50 ($9.50 for 3 or more) PO Box 744 office The results of our own breeding combined with 2015 Woodend, 3442 farm Phone (03) 5427 3227 some fabulous imports. These range in shade nursery from purple through to a more slatey colour. We Fax (03) 5427 3139 are working on this strain with the aim of a more www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au reliable purple colour and offering the slatey [email protected] ones separately. We send plants to all states of Australia, except WA. You can order plants from this catalogue by either: i) filling out this order form and posting or faxing to us, Double red $10.50 ($9.50 for 3 or more) ii) using the secure online shop at www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au, or Selected from our best stock plants. Over the past few years this has become one of our best and most iii) phoning through your order between 7.30pm and reliable strains with good sized fully double reddish/ 9pm Monday to Friday (credit card payments only). burgundy coloured flowers on good vigorous plants. If possible we recommend ordering online (the easiest Typical mail order plants for everyone) or by post/fax. We can be