Hairy Toad Lily Tricyrtis hirta
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Compsoa hirta
- Tricyrtis japonica
- Tricyrtis masamunei
- Uvularia hirta
- Description
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The Hairy Toad Lily or Japanese Toad Lily is a native of the Japanese Islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. In their native habitat, they are found on shady rock cliffs or stream banks. The Genus name, "Tricyrtis," is Greek. "Tri" translated means three. "Kyrtos" means humped, referring to the nectaries which are swollen and sac-like. The species name, "hirta," means hairy which accounts for its common name, Hairy Toad Lily. Over the last 20 years, new cultivars and hybrids have been developed in Japan and the United States. Currently, many Tricyrtis species can be found at local and specialty nurseries.
The Hairy Toad Lily propagates from seeds, stem cuttings, or divisions. It has slow forming, creeping rhizomes, and develops clumps of green foliage with a spread of 18-23 inches. The unique showy flowers are white to lavender with purple speckles and bloom summer to fall.
They are very unique plants that are excellent as an accent or border plants so that they can be seen and appreciated up close. They are complementary to other shade-loving plants such as hostas, ferns, astilbe, and hellebores. They prefer slightly acid soil with high organic matter that is kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Plant in shade to partial shade.
Problems: Rabbits like to eat leaves and buds. The Tricyrtis floral virus, which is spread by aphids, causes the flower to become mottled and then turn completely purple. Anthracnose may cause small orange spots on the leaves. To prevent this fungal disease, it is recommended to keep the foliage dry and water only at the base of the plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Albescens'
White flowers - 'Albomarginata'
Creamy white edged leaves with purple flowers - 'Golden Gleam'
chartreuse golden leaves are spotted with large gray dots and have speckled dark purple and white flowers - 'Lightning Strike'-
Golden foliage with green streaks and lavender flowers - 'Minazuki'
hairless, golden leaves with thin green border streaks and flowers are pale lavender - 'Mine-no-yuki'
Shorter, light pink flowers - 'Miyazaki'
Shorter with purple and white spotted flowers - 'Miyazaki Gold'
Green and creamy yellow leaves with purple flowers - 'Moonlight'
chartreuse parchment colored leaves, every leaf axil has a white flower with purple specks and purple ring at the inside base of - 'Shining Light'
chartreuse gold with dark green edged leaves and flowers at every leaf axil - 'Thunder Road'
Pinnate variegated leaves - 'White Tower'-
White flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Albescens', 'Albomarginata', 'Golden Gleam', 'Lightning Strike'-, 'Minazuki', 'Mine-no-yuki', 'Miyazaki', 'Miyazaki Gold', 'Moonlight', 'Shining Light', 'Thunder Road', 'White Tower'-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Albescens'
White flowers - 'Albomarginata'
Creamy white edged leaves with purple flowers - 'Golden Gleam'
chartreuse golden leaves are spotted with large gray dots and have speckled dark purple and white flowers - 'Lightning Strike'-
Golden foliage with green streaks and lavender flowers - 'Minazuki'
hairless, golden leaves with thin green border streaks and flowers are pale lavender - 'Mine-no-yuki'
Shorter, light pink flowers - 'Miyazaki'
Shorter with purple and white spotted flowers - 'Miyazaki Gold'
Green and creamy yellow leaves with purple flowers - 'Moonlight'
chartreuse parchment colored leaves, every leaf axil has a white flower with purple specks and purple ring at the inside base of - 'Shining Light'
chartreuse gold with dark green edged leaves and flowers at every leaf axil - 'Thunder Road'
Pinnate variegated leaves - 'White Tower'-
White flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Albescens', 'Albomarginata', 'Golden Gleam', 'Lightning Strike'-, 'Minazuki', 'Mine-no-yuki', 'Miyazaki', 'Miyazaki Gold', 'Moonlight', 'Shining Light', 'Thunder Road', 'White Tower'-
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tricyrtis
- Species:
- hirta
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & S. Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- The flower is pollinated by butterflies and bees. It provides nectar to hummingbirds. Small mammals feed on its new growth.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heavy shade
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a cylinder-shaped seed capsule. When the capsule dries, it releases 2 or 3 seeds. The seeds measure 1/8 inch in size and appear papery and disc-shaped. They may self-seed and naturalize under ideal conditions. Germination requires about 1 to 3 months. They should be planted at the end of the fall or before the last frost in the spring.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower is small, 1 inch long, star-shaped, and lily or orchid-like. It has six showy tepals (3 petals and 3 sepals). There are sac-like nectaries at the base of the outer tepals. The stamens and styles form a crown that extends beyond the petals and sepals. The color is white to pale lilac with heavy purple freckles. The flower may be solitary or may appear in small clusters (cymes) with 2-3 flowers per cluster. The flower appears on the upper leaf axil and faces upward. They bloom late summer and fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are alternate, hairy, light green and oval to oblong. They clasp at the base in a ladder-like arrangement and measure 3-6 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem has fine transparent hairs. It is upright, arched, unbranched, and measures 23-36 inches in height.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
