Woodland Garden: Toad Lily
How
Tricyrtis
became known as Toad Lily is a mystery to me. In my research,
I came across three different explanations. First, some
people believe it's name comes from the fact that the blooms are
spotted resembling the skin of toads. I personally don't see
much resemblance. Secondly, some people think Tricyrtis attracts
toads. Although I have seen an occasionally toad in the same
garden bed that I have Tricyrtis
planted in, I'm not sure I would attribute the toad's presence to the
plant. Thirdly, and my personal favorite explanation is Tricyrtis cures
and/or prevents warts. I've never had a wart so I'm not a
good candidate to test this but I do know that this plant is poisonous
if ingested so I wouldn't test its "curing power" even if
I did have warts.
Tricyrtis is a woodland perennial with beautiful exotic orchid-like blooms. It pairs very well with ferns, hostas and other woodland plants. It should be planted near pathways where the blooms truly can be enjoyed. It does well as a cut flower (I can picture it's usefulness in Japanese Flower Arranging). It's greatest attribute however, is its bloom time. Tricyrtis blooms in fall when very little else is blooming. These pictures were taken last November in my garden. The picture on top is of Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki'. I love its arching stems which are loaded with white blooms that are covered in purple freckles. This variety is relatively easy to find. I've seen it in several local nurseries over the last couple of years. The picture to below is of Tricyrtis 'Taipei Silk'. This compact, upright variety has neon-like blooms. 'Taipei Silk' starts blooming in August and continues to bloom until the first hard frost.
Tricyrtis
is native to Asia which makes it a great fit for our
Virginia climate. Depending on the species or
cultivar, it
does
well anywhere from zone 4 through zone 9 and grows from 1 1/2 to 3 feet
tall. Blooms range from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches and are often
speckled. They come in varying shades of purples, blues,
pinks,
and white. Tricyrtis likes moist, acidic soil. If
it does
not get enough moisture it dies down to the ground and goes into a
dormant state.
This shade loving plant has few pest problems in my gardens but I've read that slugs and snails are sometimes a problem. Rabbits and deer generally don't like Tricyrtis. There is very little maintenance in growing this plant. Just divide it in the Spring every 3 - 5 years. I use compost for mulch and that about all I do to it. If over fertilized, the leaf tips of this plant will turn brown. I really like this stunningly beautiful plant. There are well over 30 varieties and I can't wait to add 'Blue Wonder' and 'Raspberry Mousse' among others to my garden beds.