Japanese Anemone Plant
Tricyrtis – Perennial Toad Lilies for the Woodland Garden by Dennis Carey and Tony Avent, Plant Delights Nursery Inc.
Tricyrtis (toad lilies) is a shade-loving perennial in the lily family whose small but beautiful and intricately designed orchid-like flowers stop people in their tracks. When looking for woodland garden plants that flower after the spring season, tricyrtis head a very short list.
Morphology
Toad lilies are both clump forming and slowly spreading herbaceous perennials. The clumps produce several vertically upright, arching, or horizontally trailing stems. From their rhizomatous base arise stems with orchid-like or solomon’s-seal-like foliage. The 4-6″ long leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and are lanceolate to ovate in shape with acute or acuminate tips and a clasping, cordate base. All parts of the plant are covered with very fine, transparent hairs. Tricyrtis vary in height from the dwarf Tricyrtis nana at only 5″ tall to the interspecific hybrid cultivar ‘Sinonome’ which can grow up to 4′ tall or taller.
Despite their toady name, tricyrtis flowers are truly stunning. The flowers are produced from early-summer to autumn (depending on the species) when there is little else in bloom in the garden. Each flower is 1-1.5″ wide and has 6 narrow tepals (3 petals + 3 sepals). The tepals open outward in a star-shaped pattern from the flower stalk (peduncle). Several species like Tricyrtis macrantha, T. macranthopsis, and T. ishiana have fused tepals that do not flare open and so the flowers are bell-shaped (campanulate) like campanula. Some species produce flowers only at the tips of the stems while others produce flowers at every node along the stem. Some flowers are upward facing and others are nodding. The flowers are produced individually on most species.
The orchid-like flowers typically have a white or yellow base color that is covered with hundreds of small purple spots. Some cultivars have no spots or pale yellow spots. Some flowers also have sections that are blue, yellow, orange or pink. To really appreciate the beauty and complexity of the flowers you have to observe them close up. After flowering, the cylindrical seed capsules that split open to reveal tiny round, flat papery seeds.
Culture
It is best to plant tricyrtis where they can be seen close-up, where their small intricately beautiful flowers can be best appreciated. Plant the upright varieties in the front of a border, while the arching species are best displayed weeping over a wall or on a hill. Tricyrtis look great planted with hosta, anemone, ferns, astilbe, helleborus, solomon’s seal, carex and heuchera.
Tricyrtis make great garden plants because they are easy to grow. Although they prefer a slightly moist, organically rich woodland site, they will tolerate some drought once established. Plants in containers, however, should be checked frequently to prevent them from drying out. If plants are kept too dry, you will notice reduced flowering, and leaves will become spotted and brown along the edges.
In less than ideal garden conditions, tricyrtis may be bothered by slugs and snails who like to munch on the new leaves as they emerge in the spring. Organically active, nutritionally balanced soils that are active in predators such as toads, tend to keep these pests in check.
Species, groups and Cultivar list
Tricyrtis are hard to categorize, so we are grouping them below based on their growing characteristics.
Upright species with terminal clusters of reflex-petaled, terminal flowers
Tricyrtis affinis (Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis clinata, Tricyrtis macropoda var. affinis, Tricyrtis parviflora) Tricyrtis affinis is a Japanese toad lily species that can be found in low-elevation woodlands in southern Japan. Tricyrtis affinis is an upright plant to 3′ tall with broadly oval leaves, topped in late summer with purple-spotted white terminal-borne, upward facing flowers. Tricyrtis affinis makes a tight clump, and some of the best forms have amazingly beautiful dark spotted leaves. Interesting, we have found that Tricyrtis affinis prefers colder climates as opposed to the heat of the south. (Hardiness Zone 5-7, at least)
Tricyrtis macropoda (Giant Foot Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis chinensis, Tricyrtis chiugokuensis, Tricyrtis dilatata) Similar to Tricyrtis affinis, Tricyrtis macropoda has a more rounded leaf that can be nicely spotted early in the season. It also forms an upright 3′ tall plant with terminal clusters of less than showy white or pink flowers covered in overlapping mauve spots. Tricyrtis macropoda, is native to Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu Japan, as well as in Korea. (Hardiness Zone 5-7, at least)
Upright Growing, Gold-flowered, Fall-Flowering Species
Tricyrtis flava (Dwarf Golden Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis kyusyuensis, Tricyrtis yatabeana) This is without a doubt one of the finest members of the toad lily family, and certainly one of the least known. In early fall, this native of Eastern Kyushu, Japan forms short, compact 10″ tall clumps of dark green foliage, topped with clusters of quarter-sized clear yellow upfacing terminal flowers held just above the foliage. (Hardiness Zone 6-8)
Tricyrtis nana (Very Dwarf Golden Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis flava var. nana) Tricyrtis nana is a very dwarf tricyrtis that hails from Shikoku, Kyushu, and Honshu, Japan around 1300′ elevation. In reality, Tricyrtis nana is probably nothing more than a diminutive population of Tricyrtis flava. The 3-6″ tall plants, which may have subtly blotched foliage, are topped with upfacing bright yellow flowers in early fall. Tricyrtis nana is difficult to grow, first because of its small stature, but also due to its dislike of hot summers. (Hardiness Zone 5-7a)
Tricyrtis ohsumiensis (Dwarf Yellow Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis flava var. ohsumiensis) I expect this Japanese (Kyushu island) toad lily species will also become a part of the Tricyrtis flava complex, although it is the easiest of the three species to cultivate in the garden. Tricyrtis ohsumiensis makes a 1′ tall clump of wide, lightly speckled, light green leaves, topped just above the foliage in early fall with large, bright-yellow flowers. Like all members of this group, be sure to plant it where it will not get smothered by larger plants. (Hardiness Zone 4-7, at least)
Pendant Gold Bell-Flowered Species
Tricyrtis ishiiana (Weeping Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis macrantha var. ishiiana) This rare Japanese toad lily is very similar to Tricyrtis macrantha and will probably become a subspecies of it. The arching stems are adorned with clasping green leaves…slightly narrower than Tricyrtis macrantha. In September and October, the stalks are adorned with both axillary flowers and terminal clusters of large golden bells. Tricyrtis ishiiana is best planted high where the floral show can truly be appreciated. High humidity and/or good soil moisture keeps the leaves from desiccating when the flowers are borne. (Hardiness Zone 4-8a)
Tricyrtis macrantha (Weeping Golden Tricyrtis) Growing off shaded rocky cliffs, Tricyrtis macrantha is best viewed from below. Famed UK plantsman Brian Mathew writes, “Of all the tricyrtis species, the Japanese endemic Tricyrtis macrantha and its allies probably rate as having the most fascinating and beautiful flowers.” In September and October, the long arching stems are topped with large bright yellow bells, speckled red inside. The very rare, true Tricyrtis macrantha is quite similar to the more commonly grown Tricyrtis macranthopsis, except that the leaves are wider and the leaves do not clasp around the stems as in Tricyrtis ishiiana and Tricyrtis macranthopsis. (Hardiness Zone 4-8a)
Tricyrtis macranthopsis (Weeping Golden Tricyrtis) (syn. Tricyrtis macrantha ssp. macranthopsis) Like the aforementioned species, Tricyrtis macranthopsis has a dramatic weeping habit. The stems rise to 12″, then arch out to 3′. In early fall, the end of each stem is clustered with stunning 1″ long, pendant, yellow bell-like flowers. The foliage burns easily when planted in a dry or sunny location… a perfect spot would be near a shady creek bank. (Hardiness Zone 4-8a)
Pendant, Upright Gold Flowered Species
Tricyrtis perfoliata (Perfoliate Toad Lily) This rare Japanese endemic hails from the moist cliffs of the Nanuki River on Japan’s Kyushu Island. Tricyrtis perfoliata is one of several weeping toad lily species, but the only one that has upward-facing open flowers (like Tricyrtis flava) instead of the bell-like flowers of Tricyrtis ishiana and Tricyrtis macrantha. The 2-3′ long arching stem passes through the basal ends (perfoliate) of the glossy green leaves. The stems are then laden with a stunning show of 1.5″ wide axillary yellow flowers in late summer/early fall. This is not a great specimen for regions with hot, dry summers. (Hardiness Zone 5-7)
Upright Growers, Yellow-Brown Terminal Flowers in Summer
Tricyrtis latifolia (Yellow Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis bakeri, Tricyrtis makinoana. Tricyrtis pseudolatifolia) This upright, clumping species from northern Honshu, Japan is among the first of the toad lilies to flower. In early July, the 2′ stems, alternated with large glossy chartreuse-green leaves is topped with quarter size golden flowers. The upright held petals of the flower are speckled inside with tiny purple dots. Occasionally, many of the upper leaves will also produce flowers in the axils. The foliage will spread out at the top to make a nice 2′ wide clump. The leaves may also have purple spots in the spring. This toad lily is much better in colder climates. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
Tricyrtis maculata (Spotted Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis elegans, Tricyrtis esquirolii, Tricyrtis pilosa) This species was virtually unknown in the commercial trade until 2000. It’s distribution starts in Eastern Nepal and runs into Yunnan and Sichuan, China, where it can be found between 5,000 and 8,000′ elevation. Most of the material that we have seen sold as this is a purple-flowered Tricyrtis formosana x hirta hybrid. The real Tricyrtis maculata produces 4′ tall sturdy stems that emerge jet black, adorned with huge 8″ long x 4″ wide leaves that emerge green, but well adorned with large black spots. The upper half of the stalk produces several floral cluster of upright-facing cream-light green heavily spotted flowers in July and August (NC). (Hardiness Zone 5-8a, at least)
Tricyrtis puberula (Toad Lily) The Chinese Tricyrtis puberula is hopelessly confused in the literature with the Japanese Tricyrtis latifolia. While they are related species, which both make upright clumps to 2′ tall, and both flower in early summer with terminal branched inflorescences, there are some differences. T. puberula has leaves whose basal lobes never overlap, while Tricyrtis latifolia always does. Also, Tricyrtis puberula has leaves which are pubescent (hairy) on both the top and back. In our experience the flowers of T. puberula has a yellow background with dense brown spots, while T. latifolia has a greatly reduced number of brown spots. Other less easily distinguishable characteristics include wavy leaves and funnel shaped-flowers at maturity in T. latifolia, and flatter leaves and flat open flowers at maturity in T. puberula. (Hardiness Zone 4-7, guessing)
Upright Purple-flowered Taiwan Species
Tricyrtis formosana (Formosan Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis amethystina, Tricyrtis stolonifera) This Taiwan native produces upright stems to 40″ tall, clothed in glossy green leaves. The terminal flower clusters, which start in August are white and heavily spotted purple. Tricyrtis formosana spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes, creating a large patch. Tricyrtis formosana doesn’t perform well in deep shade, preferring a light open shaded location to a few hours of morning sun. (Hardiness Zone 6-9)
Tricyrtis lasiocarpa (Amethyst Toad Lily) (aka. Tricyrtis formosana ‘Amethystina’) (Toad Lily) This is one of the most spectacular toad lilies for warmer climates. In the wilds of Taiwan, we saw this growing atop rock cliffs below 5,000′ elevation, in nearly full sun, reinforcing our experience that this is not a deep shade lover. Tricyrtis lasiocarpa makes a tight clump of 3′ tall, upright, ladder-like stems clothed with glossy, green and purple speckled foliage. From midsummer until early fall, the clump is topped with multiple-branched, large, terminal sprays of 1″ white, orchid-like flowers with tips of amethyst and blue. This toad lily was originally introduced by John Elsley of Wayside Gardens under the incorrect name, Tricyrtis formosana ‘Amethystina’ (an extinct clone of the running species). (Hardiness Zone 7-9)
Tricyrtis ravenii (Raven’s Toad Lily) Tricyrtis ravenii, named in 2007 after Missouri Botanic Garden’s long-time director, Dr. Peter Raven, when it was discovered that a large population of tricyrtis in Taiwan, which were previously all lumped as T. formosana, actually represented two distinct species, T. formosana which grew below 4500′ and T. ravenii, which grew above 5500′ elevation. Tricyrtis ravenii is similar to T. formosana, except for its narrower leaves (often liver spotted when young) and dramatically less stoloniferous nature. For us, T. ravenii begins flowering in early August (NC). The 2′ tall stalks are topped with terminal panicles of white flowers with mauve spots. Many forms have purple-spotted leaves as well. (Hardiness Zone 5-8, guessing)
Arching Purple-flowered fall-blooming species
Tricyrtis hirta (Toad Lily) (syn. Tricyrtis japonica, Tricyrtis masamunei) Tricyrtis hirta is the species that comes to mind when most gardeners hear the word toad lily. This ubiquitous species, which hails from the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, is quite easy to grow and has a wide range of climatic adaptability. The arching stems, clothed in hairy light green leaves, can range from 1′ to 3′ tall, depending on the population genetics. Tricyrtis hirta comes into bloom in late summer/early fall, when the light lavender speckled, orchid-like flowers magically appear in every leaf axil. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)
Conclusion
I hope we have enticed you to explore more of the wonderful toad lily species and selections. These far too uncommon plants are uncommonly beautiful and should be a part of every woodland garden. Tricyrtis provide beautiful splashes of color from summer through fall, when little else is in bloom, and the variegated foliage on many clones expand the interest into the spring.
About the Author
To see more Tricyrtis and to purchase them, please visit our web page at: http://www.plantdelights.com
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