The plant genus Helleborus comprises 21 species, 20 of which are native to Europe and Western Asia, one of which is native to Eastern Asia. Some are considered to be naturalized to some degree in North America. It’s not likely to be seen grown in many public places, and also seldom grown on private properties, but to those who know of it, it is very often a very cherished plant.
Coarse foliage of Helleborus is a valuable texture for shaded areas, and the flowers seem extra pronounced for areas without much sun. Hellebores can be in bloom for a month or more. Some Hellebores can provide a plentitude of seedlings which conveniently can grow quite proximately and unmessily, and waiting sometimes 3-5 years for seedlings to mature into flowering plants makes the waiting seem worthwhile on its own right.
Even more astounding perhaps is that some hellebores can bloom from Thanksgiving to January, when practically nothing else outdoors is in bloom. A very expensive plant, hellebores can be enjoyed in solo. Why do so few plants bloom in winter? Why is Helleborus an exception? And as an exceptional exception, why is it not accepted more widely as a plant to use in public and private places?
Sources:
The New York Botanical Garden Encyclopedia of Horticulture, 1981