Whereas some could also be accustomed to Japanese sacred lily (Rohdea japonica, Zones 6–10), Rohdea pachynema is an unusual species that’s certainly a Rohdea much less traveled. Discovered solely within the Chinese language provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, it’s an intriguing member of the Asparagaceae household that’s slowly changing into extra accessible to gardeners. It was previously generally known as Campylandra sinensis or C. pachynema, however latest DNA work has moved it into the genus Rohdea, whose identify commemorates German botanist Michael Rohde. We will discover no documented frequent identify for this species, so we’ve got dubbed it “yellow thread rohdea” since pachynema means “thick thread” (referring to the coloured central stripe on
the leaves). 

We suspect that almost all if not all the crops of yellow thread rohdea in cultivation are derived from the identical inhabitants on the flanks of Sichuan’s Luoji Mountain. Invoice McNamara of Quarryhill Botanical Backyard (now Sonoma Botanical Backyard) in California was probably the primary to introduce this species to North America. Throughout a go to to Quarryhill some years in the past, we have been immediately smitten upon seeing Invoice’s assortment of this stunning and unfamiliar plant. Our shameless begging labored, and we have been gifted a bit of this treasure. 

Later, we avidly learn Invoice’s account of his botanical expedition to Luoji Mountain
after which made our personal go to to that very same 14,300-foot peak. It was like coming throughout an outdated pal alongside the path after we noticed yellow thread rohdea rising amongst culms of bamboo. Different collectors have been to the identical mountain on the identical path and undoubtedly availed themselves of this impossible-to-miss colony.

Yellow thread rohdea has sturdy, darkly evergreen, slim leaves reaching
18 inches lengthy or extra that lightly arch and are highlighted by a pale yellow midrib stripe alongside their size. It does flower, albeit the blooms are extra of a curious inexperienced sculptural component than one thing to be thought-about for a bouquet—which makes one respect the amber tones the flowers tackle as they age. Wanting on the shiny unique leaves and total gestalt, we drew upon our many years of plant looking and rising uncommon crops to conclude that this refined rohdea can’t be very hardy. To our shock, it trash-talked our 10°F dips in winter prefer it ain’t no thang.
It is probably going chilly hardy to Zone 6, although it might maintain some winter leaf harm.

A rhizomatous perennial, yellow thread rohdea spreads nonaggressively however steadily, rising appropriately because it intuits your need for “extra, please” as soon as
you come to understand its understated tasteful magnificence and its zero to minimal
upkeep wants. Deer don’t appear to note it, and it has no notable pest or illness points. With every passing 12 months, we worth all of the extra these crops which can be largely self-maintaining, and yellow thread rohdea is simply such a plant.

Yellow thread rohdea

Rohdea pachynema

Zones: 7–10

Situations: A fan of full shade; wealthy, moist to reasonably dry soil

Native vary: China

Sources: 

Far Reaches Farm, Port Townsend, WA 360-385-5114; farreachesfarm.com

Maintaining It Inexperienced Nursery, Stanwood, WA 360-652-1779; keepingitgreennursery.com

Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken develop a few of the coolest crops on the planet at Far Reaches Farm Nursery and Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy in Port Townsend, Washington.