3 named cultivars

perennial

Toad Lily

The Story

Plant Bio

Tricyrtis formosana, the Formosa toad lily, is a clumping herbaceous perennial from Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands, spreading slowly by rhizomes into two- to three-foot arching stems. Star-shaped flowers about an inch across open along the upper stems in late summer and autumn, white to pale mauve and heavily freckled with purple.

The flowers reward close inspection and are lost entirely at the back of a border, so plant it where a path or a seat brings you within a couple of feet. Deer and rabbits browse the soft spring growth hard in some gardens, which is the usual reason an established clump simply never reappears.

Uses & Benefits:

Orchid-like spotted flowers in late summer and autumn, when most shade plants have finished.

One of the few perennials that flowers well in genuine shade late in the season.

Bees pollinate the flowers and hummingbirds take the nectar; small mammals browse the new growth.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

18 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate to high

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in partial to deep shade, out of afternoon sun.
Give it moist, humus-rich soil that never bakes dry.
Site it close to a path where the flowers can be seen.
Mulch each spring to hold moisture at the roots.
Protect emerging shoots from deer and rabbits.
Divide congested clumps in spring every few years.

Pro Tip

Dry soil in midsummer scorches the leaf edges brown and the damage stays all season, so mulch before the heat arrives.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant it in shade with steady moisture 💧
Site it within touching distance of a path 👀
Mulch in spring to keep roots cool 🍂
Protect new shoots from browsing 🦌

Don't

Let the soil dry out in midsummer ❌
Plant it in hot afternoon sun ❌
Cut it back before it has flowered in autumn ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Mulch

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Shaded woodland path edgeLate-season interest in a shade borderContainer in a cool, shaded courtyard

Companion Plants

HostaJapanese Painted Fern Hellebore AstilbeJapanese Forest Grass

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Toad Lily questions

What zones can Toad Lily grow in?

Toad Lily is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Toad Lily deer resistant?

Yes — Toad Lily is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Toad Lily bloom?

Toad Lily typically blooms in late summer to fall through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Toad Lily need full sun?

Toad Lily does best in part shade.