Japanese Sacred Lily Rohdea japonica

The Japanese Sacred lily is a tropical-looking evergreen herbaceous perennial that has an upright, clumping, and vase-like form.  It is slow growing and reaches a height and width of 2 feet. The leaves are thick, rubbery, and rich green, and they measure from 1 to 1.5 feet long and 2 to 3 inches wide. It has insignificant flowers, but they produce bright red berries that persist into the winter to add interest to the landscape. It is a member of the Asparagaceae or asparagus family.

This plant is native to moist woodlands and grassy slopes in China and Japan. It is a highly prized and cherished plant in Japan where it has been cultivated for over 500 years. It is a "good fortune" plant and is frequently given as a housewarming or birthday gift. There are over 600 cultivars registered in Japan.

The genus name, Rohdea, translates from Chinese as "10,000 years green" and is symbolic of multiplying good luck or good fortune. The epithet, japonica, means "of Japan."

It is best planted in well-drained, rich, loamy soil, and partial to full shade. They thrive in dry shade. This plant is resistant to heavy shade, deer browsing, and drought. and black walnut. The plant is evergreen in zones 6 to 10, but in colder climates, the foliage will die back during the winter. They are best propagated by division since they are so slow growing. Clumps can be divided when they get too large, or new plants can be grown from seed if started in a greenhouse. 

Japanese Sacred Lily looks great planted in border fronts, rock gardens, containers, woodlands as a ground cover, or in a massed planting under a shade tree. Consider this plant in dry, shaded areas under trees for added interest in the landscape. 

Seasons of Interest:

Foliage:  Year-round in zones 6 through 10       Fruits:  Fall and Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• shade-loving, evergreen groundcover, herbaceous perennial with an upright, vase-shaped, clumping habit, up to 2 feet tall and wide
• thick, rubbery, dark green, lanceolate leaves measuring 1 to 1.5 feet long and 2 to 3 inches wide
• tiny insignificant whitish-green flowers during the summer
• bright red berries in the fall and winter

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no known insect pests. The only disease reported is a fungal infection known as Colletotrichum liriope which is treated by removing the infected portions and treating them with an antifungal spray.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.