My Favorite Plant - Tricyrtis or toad lily - Brief Article

Flower & Garden Magazine, Oct, 2000 by Lucy Fuchs

Exotic in background and elegant in appearance, Tricyrtis doesn't disappoint.

At the end of August when so many flowers are only a memory, my tricyrtis is cheerfully showing its white buds. All along its arching stems and in the axis of its oval leaves, the flowers will be fully open by September. In that month and into October, this plant from the Orient will lighten up a partly shaded area of my rock garden, its graceful stems cascading over a rock.

Tricyrtis is commonly called "toad lily," supposedly because many varieties have purple spotted flowers; T. hirta `Alba,' however, is pure white. Despite its exotic background and elegant appearance, tricyrtis is hardy in my Zone 6 garden in good humus, moist soil and does not seem vulnerable to disease or insects.

One of the reasons I love this plant is that since it does not put on growth until late in the season, it is a space saver that can be situated very close to early starters like spring bulbs, coming into its own when they are gone.

There are tricyrtis in many Varieties and of different colors. Because it does so well in filtered light, I plan to treat myself to some yellow ones for my shade garden.

Lucy Fuchs Ambler, PA