Helleborus plant named ‘HL 1058’

[0001] Botanical designation: Helleborus x niger X Helleborus x hybridus.

[0002] Cultivar denomination: ‘HL 1058’.

[0003] 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 2024/2902. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

[0004] 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 30/994. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

[0005] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus x niger X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HL 1058’.

[0006] 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.

[0007] The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2016 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus x niger identified as code number 028, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent and a proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number 16-44, 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 November, 2018.

[0008] Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since December, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

[0009] 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.

[0010] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HL 1058’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HL 1058’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

• • [0011] 1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.
  • [0012] 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • [0013] 3. Dark green-colored leaflets.
  • [0014] 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • [0015] 5. Flowers with white-colored sepals with purplish pink-colored margins.
  • [0016] 6. Good garden performance.

[0017] Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • [0018] 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in color than leaflets of plants of the female parent selection.
  • [0019] 2. Flower sepals of plants of the new Helleborus are white in color with purplish pink-colored margins whereas flower sepals of plants of the female parent selection are solid white in color.

[0020] Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • [0021] 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are darker green in color than leaflets of plants of the male parent selection.
  • [0022] 2. Flower sepals of plants of the new Helleborus are white in color with purplish pink-colored margins whereas flower sepals of plants of the male parent selection are pink in color.

[0023] Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘HL 1010’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,932. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘HL 1010’ in the following characteristics:

• • [0024] 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in color than leaflets of plants of ‘HL 1010’.
  • [0025] 2. Flower sepals of plants of the new Helleborus are white in color with purplish pink-colored margins whereas flower sepals of plants of ‘HL 1010’ are solid purplish red in color.

[0030] 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. 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.

• [0031] Botanical classification: Helleborus x niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘HL 1058’.
• [0032] Parentage:
  • • [0033] Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus x niger identified as code number 028, not patented.
    • [0034] Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number 16-44, not patented.
• [0035] Propagation:
  • • [0036] Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.
    • [0037] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at temperatures about 12° C.
    • [0038] Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days at temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to 15° C.
    • [0039] 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.
    • [0040] Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse.
• [0041] Plant description:
  • • [0042] 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.
    • [0043] Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.5 cm.
    • [0044] Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 31.7 cm.
    • [0045] Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 49.8 cm.
• [0046] Leaf description:
  • • [0047] Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in basal rosettes; leaves palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.
    • [0048] Leaf length.—About 17.6 cm.
    • [0049] Leaf width.—About 18.6 cm.
    • [0050] Leaflet length.—About 10.1 cm.
    • [0051] Leaflet width.—About 5.4 cm.
    • [0052] Leaf shape.—Palmate; roughly reniform in outline.
    • [0053] Leaflet shape.—Broadly elliptic to elliptic-obovate; lowest leaflets are typically cleft.
    • [0054] Leaflet apex.—Acute.
    • [0055] Leaflet base.—Attenuate.
    • [0056] Leaflet margin.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.
    • [0057] Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; moderately glossy.
    • [0058] Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; slightly glossy.
    • [0059] Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate and reticulate.
    • [0060] Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to 138A; towards the base, venation, close to N186D. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146B; main veins, close to 187C. Fully developed leaflets, upper surface: Close to N189A; at the base, tinged with close to N186C; venation, close to N144D. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to 148B; venation, close to 144B.
    • [0061] Petioles.—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm by 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A with dots, close to 186D. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A with dots, close to a blend of 187C and 187D.
• [0062] Flower description:
  • • [0063] Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate bowl-shaped flowers arranged in panicles; freely flowering habit with about three flowers per inflorescence and about 48 flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers face outwardly to slightly nodding.
    • [0064] Fragrance.—None detected.
    • [0065] Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten months after planting; plants flower naturally from early winter into the late winter in Germany.
    • [0066] Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.
    • [0067] Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 145D; upper surface, tinged with close to 186B; at the base, close to 145A.
    • [0068] Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 25.8 cm.
    • [0069] Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.1 cm.
    • [0070] Flower diameter.—About 10.1 cm.
    • [0071] Flower depth.—About 3.8 cm.
    • [0072] Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.
    • [0073] Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 5.7 cm. Width: About 5.3 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate; moderately concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N155D occasionally tinged with close to a blend of 63C and 68B; at the base, close to 144B. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155B occasionally tinged with close to a blend of 63D and 68C; at the base, close to 144C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; towards the margins, tinged with close to 68B; at the apex, occasionally close to 144C; at the base, close to 144C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155A tinged with close to 70C; occasionally, margins, close to 70B; occasionally, apex, close to a blend of 145B and 145C; at the base, close to N144C.
    • [0074] Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two. Length: About 7.1 cm. Width: About 5.9 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Tri-lobed. Base: Truncate to cuneate. Margin: Entire and occasionally, distally, serrate; coarsely undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A; at the axils, tinged with close to 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B; at the base, dots, close to 187D.
    • [0075] Peduncles.—Length: About 19.3 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm to 10 mm. Aspect: About 22.5° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 145B; heavily covered with fine dots, close to N186D and 187C.
    • [0076] Pedicels.—Length: About 6.9 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect: About 20° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly to moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144B; heavily covered with fine dots, close to 187C and N186C.
    • [0077] Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 100. Filament length: About 1.7 cm. Filament color: Close to NN155C. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform; basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 5C. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About six to ten. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style length: About 1.05 cm. Style color: Close to 187D; proximally, fine dots, close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 145C; axial ribs with fine dots, close to N186C. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower: About 14 to 17. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Tubular, flattened; apices, obtuse. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, immature, inner surface: Close to N144D; distally, close to 149B. Color, immature, outer surface: Close to 144B; distally, close to 150B. Color, mature, inner surface: Close to 144B; distally, close to 154B; with subsequent development, distal color becoming closer to 11A. Color, mature, outer surface: Close to 144B; distally, close to 154A; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 153B and distally, close to 14B. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus.
• [0078] Garden performance: 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 5 through 9.
• [0079] 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.