2 named cultivars

perennial

Toad Lily

The Story

Plant Bio

Tricyrtis macropoda, one of the toad lilies, is a rhizomatous woodland perennial from Japan, making upright arching stems two to two and a half feet high. Broad ribbed leaves clasp the stem in two ranks, and clusters of small upward-facing flowers open in August and September, white and heavily spotted with purple. It spreads slowly into colonies.

The flowers are intricate but only an inch across, and the detail is lost from a distance, so this is a plant for a path edge or a raised bed rather than the back of a border. It also flowers when little else in shade does, which makes the placement worth getting right rather than treating it as filler.

Uses & Benefits:

Orchid-like spotted flowers in late summer and early autumn, when shade gardens are usually over.

Slowly colonising cover for damp shade that needs no staking and little attention.

One of the few late-season nectar sources in deep shade, worked by bumblebees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

30 inches

Width

20 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Medium to high

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Japan

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in part to full shade.
Choose humus-rich, slightly acidic soil that stays moist.
Site it close to a path where the flowers can be seen.
Keep the soil damp; it must not dry out.
Mulch with leaf mould each spring.
Cut stems to the ground after they die back in autumn.

Pro Tip

Plant it where you pass within arm's reach; at a distance the spotted flowers read as nothing at all.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep the soil consistently moist 💧
Grow it in part to full shade 🌳
Site it close to a path or seat 🪑
Mulch with leaf mould in spring 🍂

Don't

Let the soil dry out in summer ❌
Plant it in full sun ❌
Bury it at the back of a deep border ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

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

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Shaded path edge and border frontWoodland garden underplantingLate-season interest in a shade garden

Companion Plants

HostaJapanese Painted Fern Hellebore Foamflower Solomon's Seal

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 early fall through late 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.