Tricyrtis maculata
Garden Plant Information

Tricyrtis maculata  

 

 Tricyrtis maculata

 

Tricyrtis maculata

 

Name

Tricyrtis maculata (also called Tricyrtis pilosa and Japanese Toad Lily)

Genus  

Tricyrtis

Species

maculata

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Clump-forming, hardy, deciduous, rhizomatous perennial of the lily family, grown for orchid-like speckled flowers. Combines well with hardy ferns and other woodland plants, giving an exotic look. Good for colour late in the year, it flowers from early to late autumn.

Season of interest

Flowers from early to late autumn.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - upright, clump-forming. H: 1m S: spreads gradually.

  2. Stem - round, mid-green, hairy, straight.

  3. Leaves - lanceolate, alternate, no petioles, deep vertical veining, lightly haired, mid-green.

  4. Flowers - difficult to describe! I have borrowed this description from 'When Perennials Bloom: An Almanac for Planning and Planting' By Tomasz Aniko: 'The 2.5cm wide campanulate flowers have six tepals, whitish to purple white and spotted darker purple, the outer three with sack-like nectaries at the base. The tepals surround six large stamens and a pistil with branched stigma forming a conspicuous crown-line structure. The flowers are borne singly or two or three together'

 

Cultural details

Aspect

Shade to light shade is preferred.

Soil

Moisture retentive, humus-rich.

Hardiness

Hardy

Maintenance

Mulch with organic matter to keep the soil cool and retain moisture. Water during dry periods as dry soil will result in a poor flower display.

 

Prone to attack from slugs and snails. Aphids may carry viruses which result in dark blotching on the petals; there is no cure for this and infected plants should be dug up and  burned.

Propagation

From fresh seed - sow fresh seed and leave pots outside to stratify over winter. Nodal cuttings can be taken in spring.

 

Some types of Tricyrtis are invasive, so cut back and dig out the spreading clump as necessary.

 

Fly on Tricyrtis flowr