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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Tricyrtis - Toad Lily

Finding good fall perennials require a bit of hunting. So many gardeners stop shopping for plants once summer heat hits but that's one way to assure yourself of having a boring fall garden.

Luckily, a few years ago I began to add Tricyrtis to my garden. Tricyrtis has one of those nicknames you'd rather not hear, it's Toad Lily. I think the name has something to do with the spots.

Anyway, I have a large clump of Tricyrtis blooming in my back shade bed right now.

Here you can see the whole clump. I've planted Tricyrtis in other spots and they've done ok but if you plant them next to something more aggressive, they seem to lose ground. Aparantly this one is in the perfect spot because it's quite happy there.

It took about a dozen trys to get a close up shot of the unusual bloom. Hopefully you get the picture. I do think I'd like to try a few more of these now that I've figured out what they like. Rich compost, shade and not too dry is my guess.

Do any of you grow Tricyrtis?

3 comments:

Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery said...

I have several clumps of Myazaki Hybrid, but my favorite is one with green leaves and a gold edge. It has multiplied quite well over the years and grows in pretty deep shade.
Jane

Nell Jean said...

Thank you for showing these photos. Most of the tricyrtis pics I've seen show a close-up of the blossom, not the plant as used in a garden. Your portrayal is stunning.

Laura said...

I love Toad Lilies! They've become my new fall favorite. And they multiply so well, I split them every spring and give a few away to friends. I tell them, as Johnny Appleseed worked to spread apple trees across the country, it's my dream to spread Toad Lilies across the country. They laugh, and now I have the nickname of "Toad Lily Laurie". But you are right, it is hard to get a good picture of them. I love the pictures you've gotten.