Toad lilies
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It’s somewhat traditional when writing about these Asian perennials, the genus Tricyrtis, to say that the common name Toad Lily is a rather ugly term for such an attractive group of plants. Well, I’m rather fond of frogs and toads, so I won’t say that.
The name, incidentally, probably comes from the damp woodland conditions favoured by these late summer- to autumn-flowering plants. Just the sort of place to find a toad hiding under the foliage. An alternative explanation is that the small protrusions on the flowers of some species were thought to resemble the warty tubercles of a toad.
Whatever the reason for the name, it makes little difference to the plants, which are superb additions to woodland gardens, shaded rockeries or large perennial borders that aren’t too hot, dry or sunny.
There are some 16 or so species and a few cultivars and hybrids. The species are found from the eastern Himalayas through to Japan and Taiwan with the bulk of them being Japanese. They have creeping, rhizomatous roots and typically develop into clumps of arching or, less commonly, upright stems. With time, the clumps can become quite large, though they’re easily divided in winter and early spring if they get too big or if you want more plants.
All the toad lilies are quite hardy and are far more likely to suffer from being grown in too hot or sunny position than from winter cold. The foliage dies off completely from late autumn and sometimes develops attractive gold tones at that time, though it’s scarcely a feature.
No, it’s not the foliage, but the flowers that are the attraction with toad lilies. And they’re flowers that reward close inspection. At first glance they may not seem that interesting, but take a closer look and you’ll find all sorts of delicate markings. With some, the way they’re carried is also attractive — arching sprays of bloom that open slowly over several weeks.
The most common species is Tricyrtis hirta, which for many years seemed to be the only toad lily you could find in mainstream garden centres. It has purple-spotted and marked white flowers and is among the later species to flower, often continuing well into autumn. ‘Miyazaki’ is a cultivar with particularly graceful arching flower stems.
In recent years other species have become more widely available. I especially like T. oshumiensis, which has yellow flowers from late summer and mottled foliage reminiscent of some of the dog-tooth violets (Erythronium spp.). The similarly named T. macrantha and T. macranthopsis are also similar in the shape and colour of their flowers, which are among the largest and brightest yellow in the genus.
Give them a try, they couldn’t be easier to grow. Any semi-shaded position with moist, well-drained soil that’s been enriched with compost, leaf mould or other humus will do.
Toad lilies aren’t the kind of plants that are going to set your garden ablaze with their flamboyant display. Instead, they’re plants that reward gardeners who prefer to ponder their flowers rather than have them deliver a knockout blow. For me, they almost define the idea that a garden should be a place with little treasures just waiting to be discovered. Just like a finding a real amphibian in the garden, uncovering a toad lily can be a bit of a surprise, though a very pleasant one.
Copyright Geoff Bryant
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