Helleborus plant named ‘HG 1432’

[0001] Botanical designation:

[0002] Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus.

[0003] Cultivar denomination: ‘HG 1432.’

[0004] A European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Nov. 30, 2024, application number 2024/2900. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

[0005] A United Kingdom Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Aug. 29, 2025, application number 30/985. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

[0006] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HG 1432’.

[0007] The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

[0008] The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in December 2019 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus x ericsmithii identified as code number 039, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent and a proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number 16-29, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in December 2021.

[0009] Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since October 2022 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

[0010] Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0011] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HG 1432’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HG 1432’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

• • [0012] 1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.
  • [0013] 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • [0014] 3. Dark green-colored leaflets.
  • [0015] 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • [0016] 5. Flowers with white-colored sepals with purplish pink-tinged marginal edges.
  • [0017] 6. Good garden performance.

[0018] Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • [0019] 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in color than leaflets of plants of the female parent selection.
  • [0020] 2. Flower sepals of plants of the new Helleborus are white in color with purplish pink-tinged marginal edges whereas flower sepals of plants of the female parent selection are solid white in color.

[0021] Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • [0022] 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in color than leaflets of plants of the male parent selection.
  • [0023] 2. Flower sepals of plants of the new Helleborus are white in color with purplish pink-tinged marginal edges whereas flower sepals of plants of the male parent selection are pink in color.

[0024] Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 4800’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,182. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 4800’ in the following characteristics:

• • [0025] 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in color than leaflets of plants of ‘COSEH 4800’
  • [0026] 2. Flower sepals of plants of the new Helleborus are white in color with purplish pink-tinged marginal edges whereas flower sepals of plants of ‘COSEH 4800’ are grayed purple in color.

[0031] The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production.

[0032] During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were 48 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 14 months old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition (2019 reprint), except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• [0033] Botanical classification: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘HG 1432’.
• [0034] Parentage:
  • • [0035] Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus x ericsmithii identified as code number 039, not patented.
    • [0036] Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number 16-29, not patented.
• [0037] Propagation:
  • • [0038] Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.
    • [0039] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at temperatures about 12° C.
    • [0040] Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days at temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to 15° C.
    • [0041] Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to brownish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • [0042] Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse.
• [0043] Plant description:
  • • [0044] Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit with flowers held above the foliar plane; plant shape, roughly flattened globular to globular; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
    • [0045] Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18.4 cm.
    • [0046] Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 31.2 cm.
    • [0047] Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 47.8 cm.
• [0048] Leaf description:
  • • [0049] Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.
    • [0050] Leaf length.—About 21.3 cm.
    • [0051] Leaf width.—About 25.2 cm.
    • [0052] Leaflet length.—About 15 cm.
    • [0053] Leaflet width.—About 6.5 cm.
    • [0054] Leaf shape.—Palmate; roughly reniform in outline.
    • [0055] Leaflet shape.—Elliptic to elliptic-ovate; about 50% of lowest leaflets are cleft.
    • [0056] Leaflet apex.—Acute.
    • [0057] Leaflet base.—Attenuate.
    • [0058] Leaflet margi.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.
    • [0059] Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; slightly to moderately glossy.
    • [0060] Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; slightly glossy.
    • [0061] Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate and reticulate.
    • [0062] Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to 137B; at the base, tinged with close to 183B. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to a blend of 138B and 144A. Fully developed leaflets, upper surface: Close to a blend of NN137A and 147A; at the base, tinged with close to N199B; venation, close to 144A. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 143C.
    • [0063] Petioles.—Length: About 14.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm by 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B with dots, close to 200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A with dots, close to 200B.
• [0064] Flower description:
  • • [0065] Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate bowl-shaped flowers arranged in panicles; freely flowering habit with about three flowers per inflorescence and about 90 flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers face outwardly to slightly nodding.
    • [0066] Fragrance.—None detected.
    • [0067] Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten months after planting; plants flower naturally from early winter into the late winter in Germany.
    • [0068] Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.
    • [0069] Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to a blend of 145D and 150D; at the apex, close to 150C; at the margins, close to 185C.
    • [0070] Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 29 cm.
    • [0071] Inflorescence diameter.—About 20.3 cm.
    • [0072] Flower diameter.—About 8.3 cm.
    • [0073] Flower depth.—About 4.7 cm.
    • [0074] Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.
    • [0075] Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4.7 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic to close to orbicular; slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 157B and 145C; towards the apex and margins, close to 155C; marginal edges, tinged with close to 186B to 186D; at the base, close to 145A to 145B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 157B, 145C and 145D; towards the apex and margins, close to 155C; marginal edges, tinged with close to 186A to 186C; at the base, close to 145B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155B to 155C; lower sepals tinged with close to a blend of 157B and 145C; marginal edges, tinged with close to 186C; at the base, close to 145A to 145B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 157B, 145C and 145D; towards the apex and margins, close to 155C; marginal edges, tinged with close to 186A to 186C; at the base, close to 145B.
    • [0076] Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two. Length: About 9.7 cm. Width: About 5.9 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute to tri-lobed. Base: Truncate to cuneate. Margin: Entire and distally, serrate; strongly coarsely undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to a blend of NN137A and 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.
    • [0077] Peduncles.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 10 mm. Aspect: About 20° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144B; heavily covered with fine dots, close to 177A.
    • [0078] Pedicels.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Aspect: About 15° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly to moderately glossy. Color: Close to 195B; slightly to moderately covered with fine dots, close to 182B.
    • [0079] Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 80.Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform; basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 3.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 151D. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About four. Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length: About 1.35 cm. Style color: Close to 184D. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower: About 13 to 16.Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Tubular, flattened; apices, obtuse. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144B; distally, close to 150B. Color, mature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144B; distally, close to 151B; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 146D and distally, color becoming closer to a blend of 17C and 163B. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus.
• [0080] Garden performance:
  • • [0081] Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5through 9.
• [0082] Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus plants.