Native to northeastern Greece, northern and northeastern Turkey, and Georgia, Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) is quite at home in Chicago's chilly spring. It blooms for six to eight weeks, beginning in mid-February when snow is often still on the ground. Lenten roses grow to 18 inches tall, bearing cup-shaped, 2-inch, rose-like flowers, ranging in color from white to rose-purple. Hellebores in general tolerate a variety of soils, and they are an excellent choice for shady locations under trees and near shrubs in the home garden.

The genus Helleborus was a name used by Theophrastus for all medicinal herbs (including this genus). Later botanists honored this famous physician by officially adopting his name for this genus of plants. In the ancient world, extracts from Helleborus were used as dangerous cathartics and in veterinary medicine. The poisonous alkaloids cause a burning sensation in the mouth so are rarely accidentally ingested.