Plant Min Zone: 6a
Plant Max Zone: 10b
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade, Deep Shade
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average, High
Soil Quality: Poor, Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Summer
Flower Color: Insignificant
Berry / Fruit Color: Red Orange, Orangish Red
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium, High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils, Rocky Soils
Height: 1' - 2'
Width: 1' - 2'
Growth Rate: Slow, Extremely Slow
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Almost Zero Maintenance
Spreading Potential: Extremely Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Evergreen Perennial Only if Winter-Kill Occurs.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Root-Bound Soils Under Tree, Survives Severe Drought, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Long Lasting Fall Color, Bright Winter Color, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: Weed Competition
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Slow to Reach Mature Size, Late to Emerge or Leaf Out in Spring
Chinese Sacred Lily (Rohdea japonica) is a tropical-looking evergreen herbaceous perennial native to China and Japan. They are considered the ultimate dry-shade plant for eastern Kansas landscapes. They have everything a gardener might ask for; dependable dark green foliage, colorful red long-lasting fruits, evergreen during winter, and ease of care with very low maintenance. Evergreen foliage is daylily-like and hardy to about -10°F. If it gets colder than that, rohdea will be deciduous with no detrimental effects. The red fruits in the crowns of established plants persist many months through the winter! Rohdeas are also not the best choice for full sun. While they will survive, they will get foliage burn in the summer when over 100°F in afternoon sun. With poisonous foliage, these plants resist deer and rabbit browsing. Rohdea tolerates most soils except for poorly drained ones. Growth is quite slow with young plants but speeds up with establishment and rich soils with regular water. Established plants have thrived in our Lawrence Kansas zone 6a display garden for over 15 years enduring temperatures as low as -18°F. and periods with many days in a row in the single digits and negative low temps. Repeated or successive cold winters with complete foliage loss can be an issue with this and many evergreen zone 6/7 plants. One occasional difficult winter followed by mild winters is more tolerable. It's tolerance for deep shade makes up for this though. What a great plant for the dry shade garden! Rohdea japonica 'Variegata' is a beautiful variegated variety with dark green and yellow stripes; very dramatic in winter!