Tricyrtis formosana

RHS Plant Profile
toad lily

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Tricyrtis formosana?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
toad lily RHS
toad lily RHS
toad lily RHS
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
9 Suppliers

A rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with erect stems to 80cm, with dark-spotted lance-shaped leaves and lax clusters of star-shaped whitish flowers 2.5cm in width, heavily spotted purple

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Liliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Tricyrtis are rhizomatous perennials, sometimes stoloniferous, with erect or arching stems with alternate, sometimes 2-ranked leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers that may be solitary or in terminal or axillary clusters
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Ryukyu Is., Taiwan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in deep or partial shade. In cold areas, a sheltered position encourages flowers before the first frosts. May need a deep winter mulch if cold but no snow cover

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in autumn. Propagate by division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove faded flowerheads

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free