Does anyone know what this plant is

millie

I bought this plant as a seedling from a church garden fete, it was supposed to be a Hellebore. It was just leaves for about 2 years and then the flowers appeared in the winter at the end of last year. not knowing what it was I cut the top off with the flowers when they started dying off. Since then it has looked very sorry for it self

Davesnave

Yes ,it's  Helleborus foetidus or 'stinking hellebore.' Not the nicest of names, but if you bought it from one of the posh on-line outfits it would cost a fair amount:

https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/helleborus-foetidus/classid.2909/

It's fine if people like it's subtlety, but it will never be bright flowered like some of the orientalis selections. It's chief benefit is that it does something mildly interesting when other plants are hibernating or playing dead. The plant as pictured looks fairly OK to me.

millie

Thanks, it always did look healthy until I cut the dead flowers off which was the whole top. now it looks very sick and wilted. I will take another picture tomorrow. I did buy 2 but I dug one out and dumped it because I thought it was just a load of leaves and looked very boring. I am just hoping this one recovers. 

twopenny

I've seen them look spectacular and seen them look meah.

The plant looks ok to me. Have a look on google images using the name Dave gives and you'll see. It's supposed to look much like that but can perk up in full flower.

millie

This is the plant today, just hopin it recovers now I have found out what it is. there looks like there is a baby plant showing under the yellow leaves if so I can at least rescue that one.

Davesnave

It looks to be on a hot, dry bank, which isn't the sort of environment it's suited to. Hellebores will take sun or dryness but they won't fare well with both. I have mine where they are part shaded by trees and bushes at this time of year.

FWIW, I don't think cutting the flowers off caused the problem.

millie

Thanks so hopefully I have not lost it all together. I will wait until it is cooler and move it into the shade giving it plenty of water at the moment. We do not have much shade in our garden so it just finding the best place