On the edge - Rohdea
James Waddick (Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:49:53 PST)

Dear friends,
Almost every deciduous tree has dropped its foliage except
for a single Staphylea, a Euonymus and the oaks and bamboos. What's
left is frosted and rimed in silver. Now is the time when any green
in the perennial beds makes me happy. The Hellebores are the stars of
course, but a dozen clumps of Rohdea japonica almost qualify for this
note.

Many people still do not know or appreciate Rohdea fully.
This is a mainly Japanese species in the Lily family that is
essentially evergreen in even the harshest weather. The only time I
had significant foliage damage and leaf loss was when the
temperatures dropped to the bad side of 20 below zero F.

It is not bulbous, barely rhizomateous, but it has rich deep
green leaves in a variety of forms from the typical clump of upright
leaves about a foot long and a couple of inches wide to a narrow
leaved form ('Galle' ?) with leaves about an inch wide and 15 inches
long. Dwarf forms add to the variety as well as those edged in white
or other variegations and some have bumps and ridges.

None put on a floral show, but if happy Rohdea can produce a
head of bright red berries in season. Japanese collectors have
produced dozens (hundreds? ) of varieties and some are available from
specialty nurseries including Tony Avent's 'Plant Delights'
http://plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/… and Barry
Yinger's 'Asiatica'
http://asiaticanursery.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/…
.

I have plants in front, back and all around. They blend in
during summer, but are outstanding this time of year and for the next
4 or 5 months. In this climate you have to appreciate the subtle
beauty of green foliage.

Best Jim W.
--
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 +