Helleborus orientalis - Web page Navigation - Hellebore, Lenten-rose Page

Helleborus orientalis, also known as the Lenten Rose, is a stunning perennial flowering plant native to Greece and Turkey. It gets its name from its early spring flowering during Lent. This evergreen plant has glossy green palmate leaves with 7-9 leaflets and leathery texture. The cup-shaped flowers have yellow stamens and bloom in late winter and spring in groups of 1 to 4 on thick stems. Although all parts of the plant are poisonous, it is a favorite choice for gardens and landscapes due to its broad array of cultivated varieties with different colors, including white, green, pink, maroon, purple, and spotted. The Lenten Rose is well-suited for shaded or part-shaded positions in soil rich in humus. German plantsmen began breeding H. orientalis in the mid-19th century, and these new varieties were soon introduced to the United Kingdom. The plant's popularity peaked during the late 19th century, declined during the 1920s and revived in horticulture in the 1960s with the introduction of more new varieties. With its captivating beauty and hardiness, Helleborus orientalis is a must-have for any gardener.