Repetition

I wrote a bit for the Alpien L group about Rohdea. It is only
vaguely rhizomateous, so it's inclusion here is a bit iffy. Thought
some of you might find a glimmer of info. So I am sharing unless your
hate it, then just dump it.

Dear All;
It is 'that' time of year. The days are slowly, agonizingly
getting longer, but not nearly fast enough. The temps are
unseasonably warm and as we wander the garden there are shades of
brown and tan everywhere. There are some exceptions - the hillside of
deep dark green Hellebores, but that's another story. And the
infinitely small 'pips of Galanthus, Narcissus, Adonis... One plant
stands out from all others; Rohdea japonica.

There seems to be too little written in praise of this plant.
It is easy as anything we grow. From seed or divisions, single plants
form bold clumps that stay evergreen down through -0 F and now the
bright red berries are an added bonus in an otherwise dull garden. We
have only had it defoliate during our record cold season of -23 F
(-30C), but the plants survived and bounced back with new foliage.
This year the Rohea were untouched by our winter low of -5F and the
foliage is green, rich and lush.

I have been collecting the bright red berries and planting
seed. Most fruits have 1, 2, or 3 seed, but an exceptional fruit has
up to 5 seeds. They are large, pearly and firm. Planting just buried
in pots or scratched into the ground, seedlings are produced quickly
in spring and do not need fussing even here.

This is a collector's plant from Japan where it is known as
'Omoto' and available in dozens or hundreds of named cvs. It is a
plant of subtle to outrageous variation. The common, cheap and basic
variety has flat foliage up to a foot or so in length and a couple
inches wide in large loose fans, but from there anything goes.
Variation is from a minimal white or yellow edge to longitudinal
striped foliage and even spotted forms all called 'clouds'. Naturally
there a white tipped or 'Akebono' form too. The leaves may be
crinkled long-wise into ridges (called dragons) which may make up the
entire leaf - pure corduroy. And of course you can find almost any
combination of clouds and dragons, in sizes from dwarf to large. And
don't forget the narrow linear leaves versus wide rounded leaves and
the exaggerated bent, twisted and convoluted leaves (called Lion's
head) combined with clouds and dragons to an almost infinite variety.
As these variation become more pronounced the plants are
higher in price, slower to propagate and harder to locate. A few US
catalogs regularly offer a few special forms at $100 or more and in
Japan there is almost no limit to the price for the most extreme
specimens of Lion's Head with clouds and dragons. The Japanese
classic gardener would carefully cultivate these treasures in a
certain form of pot made just to show them off.

All are equally hardy or those I have tried, about a dozen
forms. I'd get more, but they are getting beyond my wallet's worth.
But even a small variety of different forms, sizes and variation can
have an impact in the winter and spring landscape. Their small
flowers are not worth pursuing. I've probably planted 100 seeds of
half a dozen forms and fingers are crossed for some clouded and
bedragoned, lion-headed progeny. Wish me luck.

Incidentally, Rohdea is 'probably' a monotypic genus in the
Lily Familiy, but it is close to and may just 'drift' into the much
larger genus Tupistra found widely across temperate Asia. I have
tried and killed a few species, but the hardiest has been T.
chinensis - the true species, not what is sold as 'Eco China Ruffles'
with soft tender foliage. More of these are coming into gardens too.

If you check the literature, you will read it is somewhat
tender and used to routinely be listed as Zone 9 or 10, but as more
people try this in northern gardens, it is found to be quite hardy
and an absolute necessity in the winter garden. So any one have a
Lion Head Rohdea that needs thinning?

If you haven't tried Rohdea, get some for a prominent, but
lightly shaded spot in the winter garden. It is most satisfying this
time of year.

Best wishes from spring feverish Jim W.

and

Thanks to my computer literate partner, here's some pictures
of Rohdeas taken yesterday, Jan 26, 06.

This is an assortment of pictures of various cvs to show
their leaf condition in my Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5 mid-winter
landscape. I think the foliage generally looks great, especially when
you compare it to that of some Hellebores, Epimedium and others
shown. There are a few brown tipped leaves, but every brown tipped
leaf is among the oldest. I think they can keep foliage from one to
the next, so some of these oldest leaves are more than 1 year old and
thus subject to my summer AND winter climate extremes. This winter's
low has been -5F.

Hope to get your comments about the foliage

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimwaddick/

--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +