The toad lily plant ( Tricyrtis sp . ) is an herbaceous perennial native to eastern and southeasterly Asia . The plant is worthy for its ability to bloom in the shadowiness and for the fact that it blossom in later summertime to early fall , a time of the year when many flowers are fading by . There are 16 species of the toad lily , each with many cultivar , each one with belittled , unequalled , orchid - comparable blooms of different colors and patterns .

Appearance

Toad lily drift in height from one to three feet , with gently arch stalk . They spread through rootstock , or underground , horizontal roots , and are attractive when constitute in groups . The flowers blossom on tenuous stems that rise up vertically from the masses of bright green or variegate , ovate leaf . Some cultivars have golden parting . The flowers feature three privileged tepals ( modified petals ) and three outer tepals . In most cultivar , the flowers are a shadowiness of chickenhearted , pinkish or purple . Sometimes they are creamy - white , with imperial or yellow blotch or speckle . In fact , the " Speckled Toad " variety is so name for its peak , which have dark purple speckles on a clean background .

Climate

toad frog lily are hardy to United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) originate zone 5b , according to a sketch conducted by Richard Hawke , handler of plant life rating programs at the Chicago Botanic Garden . Severe scathe to the plant or last occur when they are exposed for extended periods of time to temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit . The plants will often retain to flower well into November as long as they are not subjected to a hard frost . subsequently , they enter a hibernating period , to sprout again in the spring in temperate climates .

Culture

toad frog lily expand in cool , loamy , moist dirt that is rich in organic thing . Unlike many blooming perennial , these plant thrive in fond shade and will even bloom in full nicety , although not as prolifically as plants that receive a few hours of sunlight . Plants exposed to full sun may feel scorching of the leave-taking . The territory should be kept systematically moist if toad lily are to grow well , and they can be fertilized in the springtime with a fertilizer formulated for lilies .

Uses

These plants naturalise well in nerveless , shady areas and are very attractive when implant in radical in woodland arena , accord to Mr. Hawke . They can also be planted as a border plant in repeated gardens and are well pair off with other twilight - blooming , shade - loving plant such as hostas and astibille . Ferns also make excellent frames for the touchy foliage and blossom of toad lilies .

Problems

Toad lilies are comparatively pest and disease resistant , but they can endure from anthracnose , a fungal disease that is signified by the exploitation of little orangish spot on the humiliated base and leaves of the plant . Over time , the spot will migrate up the plant and may deform the leave of absence or coalesce into parent brown lesions , causing the leaves to drop from the lily . Anthracnose can be avoid by water at the base of the plant and keeping the leaves dry . An app of antifungal in the spring can also trim back the chances of the disease developing . Rabbits love toad lilies and will decimate an entire planting if the lilies are not fenced .

References

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