Common Name: toad lily
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Liliaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: August to September
Bloom Description: Purple-blotched
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in part to full shade. Prefers moist, organically rich, humusy, slightly acidic soils in part shade. Soil must not be allowed to dry out. Non-rhizomatous. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tricyrtis hirta, commonly called toad lily, is perhaps best known for its unique flowers, ability to bloom in shade and late summer to early fall bloom time. Features small, lily-like flowers (1 inch long) with six showy tepals (similar appearing sepals and petals). Flowers appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends either solitary or more often in small clusters (cymes) of 2-3 flowers each. White to pale lilac flowers with heavy purple spotting. Arching, unbranched stems grow upright to 2-3' tall. Sometimes called hairy toad lily because all parts of the plant are hairy. This species of toad lily is not rhizomatous. Oval to oblong leaves (3-6" long) with parallel veins and clasping leaf bases.
Genus name comes from the Greek words tri- meaning three and kyrtos meaning humped as the bases of the three outer petals are swollen and sacklike.
Specific epithet means hairy.
'Miyazaki' is noted for having shorter, more arching stems (to 2' tall) than the species.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs are an occasional pest.
Uses
Borders, woodland gardens, shade gardens or naturalized areas. Plant in areas where they can be easily observed at close range, because the beauty and detail of the small flowers becomes lost at a distance.