Toads really can be beautiful, and they do have a place in the garden – or rather, toad lilies (Tricyrtis) do. These magical woodland plants bloom gorgeously in your late summer/early fall garden!
The unique bloom of
Tricyrtis ‘Shirohotogisu’ makes it a stunner in the late summer/early fall garden.
Photo Credit: Donna W. Moramarco
When in bloom, toad lily can be a real showstopper.
Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman
Attractive foliage and striking flowers make toad lilies winners in any garden.
Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman
Even when your toad lily isn’t blooming, its foliage remains a showy accent in the shady garden.
Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman
Never heard of toad lily? I’m not shocked. It’s just not a common plant you’d find in the landscape – but it’s one that’s definitely worth searching for! Not only is it a fall-bloomer, it thrives in partial to moderate shade – a plus for gardeners working with such areas. Garden centers display and sell toad lily when it’s in bloom because it’s a true showstopper. (If you can’t find it at your local garden center, consider doing an online search.)
If you’re lucky enough to find one of these blooming beauties to put in your garden, just follow these helpful hints to keep your lil’ toad happy:
- Plant it in organically enriched, moist soil that favors acidic conditions. If you’ve got poor soil, consider adding organic matter – like leaf mold, rotted manure or compost – to improve it. To keep your plants at their best, don’t let the soil go dry.
- Plant your toad lily in light to moderate shade conditions.
- Be sure to give it some space. Toad lily is a clump-forming perennial that should grow to about 24 inches tall and wide, so allow it the room to grow to reach its full size.
With that said, also be sure to plant your toad lily where you can see and appreciate the breathtaking detail of its flowers. They’re just amazing. One selection, a plant formally known as Tricyrtis ‘Shirohotogisu’, has beautiful pure-white blooms that look like a cross between an orchid and a passion flower. Its arching stems rise to 2 feet in the garden!
Another real plus for any gardener is that toad lily doesn’t have any serious problems worth mentioning – except for an occasional snail or slug. Not to worry, though. There are organic and chemical remedies to rid your garden of these pesky mollusks.
Now’s the perfect time – during late summer and early fall – to start your search for this out-of-this-world plant! If you get it in the ground this year, you’re sure to enjoy toad lily’s magnificent blooms this year, and for many years to come.
