thick mulch around lenten rose?

[Haesuse]

if I put a layer of pine nuggets around a bed with lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis), will they then cease to send off new shoots outside of the area of the base, since it will be densely covered in pine nuggets? I imagine it will completely stop any of the seeds from ever taking hold, but will it also limit the ability of each plant to spread?

thanks,
nick

[rainbowgardener]

Your mulch, unless you really make it heavy and dense, should not prevent your plant from putting up new shoots from underground. They push it out of the way or thread their way through. Just don't pack it down too hard.