Are you sure its foetidus? The leaves look a lot broader than mine. Looks as though something's been eatin git doesn't it?
Could it be the horrible mould (I don't know what it is exactly) that attacks hellebores later in the season? If you don't cut it all off in the autumn it infects the spring growth as well - but I'm sure you knw all that anyway. If you do loose it and want another let me know.

Thanks Stera...I think you mean Hellebore Black Death. It could be that, in which case I would need to burn it immediately. We'll see what others say. The only other possibility is that my soil is a bit too acid..or the snails have had it..but I really don't think it's that. The other two died almost as soon as the spring was over..same thing, blackened leaves and collapsed stems.

I'm not sure that soil type is too important, Karen. We grow it no problem but plants that I gave to a neighbour a few houses away just wouldn't grow. Maybe it is the Black Death thing but in some gardens they do well and others not at all.

Anyway remember to let me know if you want a replacement.

Thanks Stera but think I'll give up on this for now.

The fungus/bacteria/whatever does not normally attack H. foetidus though it is possible. We have dozens of these all over the garden and a certain number of them go like that every year. Cutting off the leaves on foetidus would kill it in any case, it is only the orientalis hybrid types which should be defoliated.
Myself I would leave it for now and see if it sets seed before destroying it.
Try watering it with an aspirin solution, that is supposed to be good for them!

Thanks Owdboggy.Come to think of it that makes a lot of sense - the growth habit is different isn't it?

That doesn't look like the native H. foetidus, is it some kind of cultivar? If so it could be weak or unstable. The wild type prefers alkaline soil and is a short-lived perennial which reproduces reliably by self-seeding.

I agree Landgirl. Ours seem to flourish in slightly acid soil though.

Easy to tell if it is foetidus, crush a leaf. If it stinks then it is what you think, if not then it could well be one of the other evergreen types whose names escape me this morning, owing to the cold wind.

Bought 3 of them last year...pretty sure they came from Crocus, definitely as H. Foetidus.

Oh, is it the cold wind that does it? That's comforting, roll on warmer weather and a better memory!

It is foetidus which has that distinctive purple/red edge to the flower petals. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=167 on problems with hellebores shows a photo of the 'Black death'. I wonder if you imported it when you bought the plants. Maybe Crocus could help.

Scouts gran...after researching the Black Death, I thought exactly the same as you! I reckon the disease was on them when they came.

As I have quite a few Hellebores, I am going to dig this one out and put it in the bin asap.

Burn it if you can. i would not plant another hellebore in the vicinity in case the disease organisms are still in the soil but you probably suspect that already. Lets hope the cold spell kills off a few nasties. .

Yes, good advice, thanks.