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Definition of lenten rose
lenten rose
Plural:lenten roses
• noun
1
An evergreen or semi-evergreen perennial plant (Helleborus orientalis) of the buttercup family, native to Greece and Turkey, noted for producing nodding, cup-shaped flowers in late winter or early spring.
Example
"The Lenten rose is a popular choice for shaded woodland gardens because it provides vibrant blooms before most other plants awaken from their winter dormancy."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for lenten roseWord Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the Lenten rose is not a true rose but rather a species of hellebore (Helleborus orientalis) belonging to the buttercup family.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lenten rose. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lenten%20rose