How Do I Know If My Hellebores Have Black Death Disease Or Something Else?

Question

This has happened suddenly with 6 or more hellebore plants in my garden.

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Answer 1

It could also be crown rot or another fungal disease. Black death is most common on the hybrid forms. Try cutting these back to the crown and see if healthy new foliage comes in. If it comes in brown or black, remove the whole plant. I have a hellebore that gets black leaves after every winter, but after I remove them, the foliage looks fine. Yours could have black spot or another fungal disease. The only way to be certain is to have a sample evaluated at a plant diagnostic lab. Some universities have those.

These articles should help with diagnosis:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hellebore/common-hellebore-diseases.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hellebore/hellebore-black-death.htm

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/plant-health-clinic/docs/2019_Plant_Health_Clinic_Newsletters/Plant%20Health%20Clinic%20Newsletter-Issue%209.pdf