For many years now, none of my hellebores produced any seedlings. Then all of a sudden last year, I saw some seedlings coming up around my Picotee hellebore which I have had for about 6 years now. Then recently while weeding and cleaning up my garden beds, I saw more seedlings coming up around my double hellebores. I am really excited about these. I am wondering how do I go about caring for these seedlings? Should I leave them where they are or should I transplant them somewhere else? They are quite small right now.

I generally wait till there 3rd year to move them or just leave them alone.

I've heard that you should leave them 'under their mothers skirts' for the first year. When they get big enough (2nd+ year) you can carefully move them to a similar sited spot in the garden or to a nursery bed, if you have one. Thats what I do. NJBob is correct though, when sited well it takes 3 years to bloom - longer if they aren't happy.

@NJBob and @NHJenDion Thank you Bob and Jen for your responses! I will just let them be where they are at for 2 more years, just to be safe. I am so excited to see them. For many years now, I thought that I have only non fertile hybrids but maybe these few are not. Thanks again!