Look for some of the newer niger introductions from the Yoder breeding program. 'Josepsh Lemper' (there is also a 'Jacob' and a 'Joshua') is an excellent choice that produces a profusion of tall, very upright and upward facing pure white flower very early in the season. I find it very resistant to botrytis as well, which is a real problem on most niger selections in our damp winter climate. It is not an inexpensive choice (very new and a patented introduction) but neither are any of the named white forms of xhybridus or other hybrids as these are all propagated by tissue culture.

We have a local vendor that had a white Helleborus x hybridus tissue cultured in Poland and sells them in early spring. All of the one's in bloom, have been sold and the non-blooming one's were pulled from the racks a few weeks ago.
If you don't find some this season, bump up this thread or begin a new one, about the first of March 2009 and I will check his stock for the pure white one's and let you know.
He has been selling them in 4-5" pots for $2.50 or 5/$10.
Rb

Thank you both for your suggestions. 'Joseph Lemper' is beautiful and just what I was looking for, but it is very expensive. How does the flower hold up against the rains... does it wilt? I've heard that the downward-facing blossoms help the rain to run off and, thus, lengthen the bloom time.

Razorback, what is the white x like? The price sounds wonderul. Is this a vendor w/a mailorder site? Most definitely I'd like to see what happens next season and will tuck this email in my "vault."

Molie

We're about as wet as you can up here in the PNW during Joseph's bloom time and he holds up marvelously. As do other upward facing hybrids like 'Ivory Prince' or 'Silver Moon'. Yes, he is expensive but part of that is due to being a new introduction this past season as well as being patented. FWIW, patented plants and those propagated through tissue culture DO tend to be more expensive, as you are paying for the lab expense of one and the grower's rights for the other. It's an investment - whether or not it's worth it to you is your decision :-)

molie...
I don't have any of the white x hybridus left, that I purchased last year from this vendor, but as I recall, the sepals were pure white, but don't remember the color of the nectaries.
The vendor is a wholesale nursery and does not ship or deliver.
I didn't purchase any this year, as we are still in the throes of an extraordinary drought situation, with no outdoor watering permitted. As a result,sales of garden plants are extremely depressed, resulting in a large retail nursery chain filing for bankruptcy, dismantled and sold at auction.
I located a couple of sources for 'Joseph Lemper', 'Joshua' & 'Silvermoon', but the nearest one is a 2½ hour drive, one way.($60-$70 in fuel costs) They will deliver, but minimum order, for delivery, is 200-1 gal.plants. Considering our depressed market, that is not an option at this time. I already have a large shipment of Hellebores scheduled to arrive from the West coast at the end of May, but they will require at least a year of growth to be retail-ready. I'm counting on an easing of water restrictions, by the time they are ready, otherwise I will have to enjoy all of them, along with thousands of other unsold plants!
Rb

Wow! What great prices! I wish I could find Hellebores around here for $2-$5 each!

Rb,

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear of the terrible weather conditions (in Georgia?)... we haven't had much rain up here either. It is awful to hear that a wholesale nursery has closed due to a downturn in the weather and, perhaps,the economy. But I am willing to wait until next year.

In CT some plants are available, but the ones I like are online at place like White Flower Farm. Their prices are over the top. Plus, I am really suspect about the claims and photos in catalogues.

Thanks for your information.

Molie