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Tricyrtis formosana (Toad Lily)

Toad Lily

Tricyrtis Formosana, Toad Lily, Purple flowers, flowers for shade, Fall perennial, Shade perennial

Incredibly pretty and exotic-looking, Tricyrtis formosana (Toad Lily) is a shade-loving perennial with small, orchid-like flowers, 1 in. long (2.5 cm). The blooms feature six showy white tepals, heavily sprinkled with purple freckles and a yellow throat. They are quite showy and borne in lax clusters at the top of erect stalks and sparkle in the garden in late summer to early fall. The foliage of shiny, lance-shaped, dark green leaves usually remains attractive throughout the growing season. Tricyrtis formosana is regarded as a top performer in the 2001 Chicago Botanic Plant Evaluation study due to its superior floral display, robust habit, winter hardiness, and disease resistance.

  • Relatively trouble-free, this Toad Lily requires little maintenance, is heavy shade tolerant, and deer resistant.
  • Slowly spreading by creeping rhizomes, this Toad Lily grows vigorously up to 24-36 in. tall (60-90 cm) and spreads 18-24 in. (45-60 cm). Will naturalize to form dense colonies over time without being invasive.
  • Part shade to full shade lover, this Toad Lily thrives in organically richevenly moist, slightly acidicwell-drained soils. Don’t let the soil dry out! Mulch should be added to reduce water evaporation and maintain moisture.
  • While most other perennials have finished blooming, this delicate beauty is just getting started. Plant it in perennial borders, woodlands, by streams, ponds, or by a path or sidewalk where you can enjoy this uncommon charmer as you pass it every day.
  • Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in fall. Propagate by division in early spring
  • Native to Taiwan

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 6 - 9
Climate Zones 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Liliaceae
Genus Tricyrtis
Common names Toad Lily
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Tricyrtis ‘Blue Wonder’ (Toad Lily)
Tricyrtis formosana ‘Dark Beauty’ (Toad Lily)
Tricyrtis ‘Taipei Silk’ (Toad Lily)
Tricyrtis ‘Sinonome’ (Toad Lily)
Tricyrtis formosana ‘Autumn Glow’ (Toad Lily)
Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki Hybrids’ (Toad Lily)

Recommended Companion Plants

Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’ (Solomon’s Seal)
Aster novae-angliae ‘Andenken an Alma Potschke’ (New England Aster)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (Siberian Bugloss)
Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’ (Mountain Fleece)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Astilbe

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Tricyrtis (Toad Lily)
30 Great Perennials for Shade
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 6 - 9
Climate Zones 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Liliaceae
Genus Tricyrtis
Common names Toad Lily
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Tricyrtis (Toad Lily) to pick?
Compare Now

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