Culture
Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, organically rich, humusy, slightly acidic soils in part shade. Soil must not be allowed to dry out.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tricyrtis macrantha, commonly called toad lily, is an herbaceous perennial with a weeping habit. It is native to Japan (Shikoku) where it is often found growing in shady ravines or cascading over rock formations. It typically grows in a clump to 12-18” tall with arching but sometimes decumbent brown-hairy stems spreading or cascading to as much as 36”. Stems are clad with ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, parallel-veined, cordate-based, glossy, dark green leaves (to 4” long). Nodding, pendulous, thick-tepaled, bell-shaped, bright yellow flowers (to 1 ½” long) are speckled with reddish-brown inside. Flowers bloom on long pedicels from the upper leaf axils and stem ends in late summer to early fall (September-October).
Subsp. macranthopsis primarily differs from the species by having (1) hairless stems, (2) narrower stem-clasping leaves and (3) a slightly later bloom time. It is native to Japan (Honshu) where it is often found growing near waterfalls and over rock faces. It features yellow pendant flowers with raspberry inside spotting in a late summer to early fall bloom. Lanceolate stem-clasping dark green leaves (to 4-6” long).
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 comes from the Latin word macranthus meaning large flowered.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails are occasional visitors.
Uses
This trailing tricyrtis is a shade-loving plant that is best sited in an elevated position so that the cascading stems and drooping flowers can be fully appreciated. Woodland gardens, shade gardens or naturalized areas. Trail from the top of a rock wall. Containers.