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Lenten rose

Helleborus orientalis

Basic Details

Description

Floral Formula

Features

Translations

Basic Details

NameLenten rose

DescriptionElegant shade-loving perennial featuring nodding, cup or saucer-shaped flowers in exquisite shades of white, pink, purple, green, and near-black, often beautifully spotted, veined, or picoteed. Blooms appear in late winter through early spring (during Lent), providing essential color when few other plants flower. Despite the name, not a true rose but valued for rose-like blooms and evergreen, leathery foliage that remains attractive year-round. Long-lived, low-maintenance plant perfect for woodland and shade gardens, though all parts are toxic.

FamilyRanunculaceae

GenusHelleborus

TribeHelleboreae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ⚥ K5 C5-10 A∞ G3-10

Ebracteate (no bracts), radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), bisexual, 5 large petal-like sepals (persistent, colorful), 5-10 small tubular petals modified as nectaries, numerous free stamens, 3-10 free carpels (apocarpous) with superior ovaries. What appear as petals are actually sepals

Features

Name 'Lenten Rose' from blooming during Christian Lenten season (late winter/early spring). 'Helleborus' from Greek 'helein' (to kill) and 'bora' (food), referencing toxicity. H. niger called 'Christmas Rose' for winter blooming. Ancient Greeks used hellebore medicinally and as poison. Not related to true roses
Flowers 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) across, cup to saucer-shaped, nodding or outward-facing. Five petal-like sepals (true petals are small nectaries) in white, cream, pink, rose, purple, plum, green, yellow, near-black, often with spots, veining, or picotee edges. Single or double forms. Blooms February-April, lasting 8-10 weeks
Evergreen herbaceous perennial forming clumps of leathery, palmate leaves divided into 7-9 leaflets. Leaves persist through winter. Slow to establish (2-3 years) but long-lived once settled. Resents disturbance. Self-seeds readily, creating colonies over time
Grows 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall with 18-24 inch (45-60 cm) spread. Flower stems rise above foliage. Lifespan of 10-25+ years, improving with age. Propagated from seed (slow, 2-3 years to bloom, variable) or division (difficult, best done in fall). Hybrids don't come true from seed
H. orientalis native to Greece, Turkey, and Caucasus mountains. H. niger from European Alps. Found in mountain woodlands, forest edges, and rocky slopes at elevations to 6,000 feet. Now widely cultivated in temperate gardens worldwide. Numerous hybrids developed
Prefers partial to full shade, tolerates morning sun in cool climates. Requires consistently moist, well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline soil (pH 7.0-8.0). Drought tolerant once established. Dislikes wet winter soil. Very cold hardy (zones 4-9). Remove old leaves in late winter before flowering
Excellent for shade and woodland gardens, providing late winter/early spring color. Long-lasting cut flower (sear stem ends). Deer and rabbit resistant. All parts highly toxic if ingested (cardiac glycosides, saponins). Sap causes skin irritation. Used historically in medicine (dangerous). Symbolizes scandal, anxiety relief, and protection from evil

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificHelleborus orientalis

English (Alternate)Oriental Hellebore, Christmas Rose, Hellebore, Oracle Flowers, Winter Rose, Lenten Hellebore

Hindiलेंटेन रोज़ (Lenten Rose), कोरासानी-कुटकी (Khorasani-kutki), कालिकाटुकी (Kalikatuki), हेलेबोर (Hellebore)

Tamilபவளமல்லி (Pavalamalli), ஹெல்லெபோர் (Hellebor), கிறிஸ்மஸ் ரோஜா (Christmas Roja), லெண்டன் ரோஸ் (Lenten Rose)

Teluguక్రిస్మస్ రోజ్ (Christmas Rose), హెలిబోరస్ (Heliboras), లెంటెన్ రోజ్ (Lenten Rose), శీతాకాల పుష్పం (Sheetakala Pushpam)

Malayalamക്രിസ്മസ് റോസ് (Christmas Rose), ലെന്റൻ റോസ് (Lenten Rose), ഹെലിബോർ (Hellebore)

Kannadaಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ರೋಸ್ (Christmas Rose), ಲೆಂಟನ್ ರೋಸ್ (Lenten Rose), ಚಳಿಗಾಲದ ಹೂವು (Chaligalada Hoovu)

Sanskritशीतपुष्पम् (Sheetapushpam), हिमपुष्प (Himapushpa)

Bengaliক্রিসমাস রোজ (Christmas Rose), লেন্টেন রোজ (Lenten Rose), শীতকালীন ফুল (Sheetokaleen phul)

FrenchHellébore d'Orient, Rose de Carême, Hellébore, Rose de Noël

RussianМорозник (Moroznik), Морозник восточный (Moroznik vostochnyy), Рождественская роза (Rozhdestvenskaya roza)

SpanishRosa de Cuaresma, Eléboro oriental, Rosa de Navidad, Eléboro negro

GermanLenzrose, Orientalische Nieswurz, Christrose, Schneerose

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula

% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G₂

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.