Q: My Christmas rose is looking rather pitiful. It is rangy and appears to be beaten down by the rain, even though it has produced some blooms. Could it be that I have it in the wrong growing conditions? It is on the east side of my house, close to the foundation in relatively rich loam.
A: Helleborus niger, known as the Christmas rose because it comes into bloom at the end of the year, is one of the trickier hellebores to grow well. It is worth a try, though, for its blossoms unfurl so early, and are a beautiful, pure white centered with a fluff of delicate yellow stamen.
The ranginess you describe is probably the old, battered leaves from last season, which should be cut away by late fall to better see the new buds and flowers. Each cluster of white blossoms grows up from the ground on stout stems, to be followed by fresh leaves. Helleborus niger do best in full or partial shade in alkaline soil (if your soil tends to be acidic, yearly applications of lime would help.)
If you continue to have trouble, you might want to try the later-blooming hybrid hellebores, which aren't as fussy, tolerate more sun, and have flowers in a range of colors from palest pink through yellow to deep plum.
Q: I planted a coral bark maple last spring, and now it looks dead. How can I tell if I killed it, or if it will come back in the spring?
A: An experienced nurseryman once told me that he had heard more complaints about coral bark maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') dying suddenly than with any other tree the nursery stocked. This was comforting after mine died for no apparent reason.
Now I think it didn't receive enough water, because I planted it at the top of a hill, against a cement wall. This was a perfect spot to show off its bright bark in winter and lacy green leaves in summer, but the reflected heat from the wall and lack of supplemental water probably killed it off. Last summer and autumn were dry, and new trees need plenty of water, so your maple would have suffered if not watered regularly all the way through October. But wait until June before deciding if the tree is dead. Despite some die back, it may well leaf out by late spring.
Valerie Easton also writes about Plant Life in Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine. Call 206-464-8470 or e-mail planttalk@seattletimes.com with your garden questions.
