Toad lilies bring flair to any fall garden. While almost all other shade plants have finished blooming and are about to wind down for the winter, toad lilies are just beginning to show off. This perennial, hardy in Zones 5-9, has speckled flowers, and the plants have graceful arching habits and often variegated or spotted foliage to accompany the dainty blooms. The flowers usually come in whites, yellows, purples, or soft pinks. Many variegated varieties of toad lily feature gold foliage with speckles or edges of another color.
Toad lilies are still a relatively recent introduction to the U.S. garden world. These plants came from east Asia and weren't used in ornamental gardens until the mid-'90s when they became available at specialty nurseries. Since then, new hybrids and cultivars have been created that feature larger blooms, unique patterns, and exciting foliage colors.
Toad Lily Overview
Where to Plant Toad Lily
These plants are native to the edges of woodlands and around creeks, so plant them in similar environments. They do best when mostly in the shade, especially where it's hot.
How and When to Plant Toad Lily
Plant toad lilies in the spring for fall blooming. Mix compost with soil and make a hole twice as big as the rhizome. Spread the roots and fill in with the soil. Water until top 1 to 2 inches of soil is saturated.
Toad Lily Care Tips
Toad lily plants require little maintenance, but the most crucial factor for them is the right amount of water.
Light
These plants love morning sun and afternoon shade, but dappled shade throughout the day works just as well. A few varieties may be able to take full sun, but only if well-watered. Even then, foliage may scorch. In the too-dense shade, variegated and gold varieties may fade to more green color, and blooms may be less numerous.
Soil and Water
Toad lilies perform best in rich, moist, well-drained soils. Some species of toad lily can handle short droughts, but the foliage and overall health of the plants may begin to decline the longer the drought lasts. To maintain toad lily, you should add supplemental water during dry spells.
Temperature and Humidity
Toad lilies do well in cold weather and will be fine in hot temperatures if they get enough shade. However, too much humidity can cause them to rot.
Fertilizer
If your soil is too dry and heavy, consider adding compost to your garden beds before planting. Doing so will add nutrients and increase the water-holding capacity, creating a better home for toad lilies.
Pruning
After toad lilies have bloomed, trim the flower stalks from the base so the foliage can die back on its own.
Potting and Repotting Toad Lily
To pot toad lily, choose a container, either glazed ceramic or plastic, with plenty of drainage to prevent any standing water. When toad lilies get too big for their pots, divide them and replant.
Pests and Problems
To prevent fungal disease, water at the base of the plant instead of from overhead. There are few pests to worry about beyond the usual slugs and snails. Watch out for rabbits, because they love to eat toad lilies, though deer do not.
How to Propagate Toad Lily
Propagate toad lilies through division in early spring or via cuttings, which can be taken in early summer.
Toad lilies can also grow from seed. Start indoors or sow them in garden soil. Use fresh seeds and be careful not to bury them because they need sunlight to germinate.
Types of Toad Lily
Common Toad Lily
Tricyrtis hirta is soft and fuzzy with hairs. Its arching stems bear clusters of upright flowers. The orchid-like blooms are white with dark purple spots. It grows to 3 feet tall. Zones 4-9
'Tojen' Toad Lily
Tricyrtis 'Tojen' bears unspotted lavender flowers in early fall on tall, 3-foot stems. It's more vigorous than many other toad lilies. Zones 4-8
'White Towers' Toad Lily
Tricyrtis 'White Towers' bears pure-white flowers in late summer and fall on 2-foot-tall stems. Zones 4-8
Toad Lily Companion Plants
Lilyturf
Used often as a groundcover or an edging plant, liriope is popular for good reason. It stays green year-round in many climates, produces pretty blue or white flowers, and is about as tough a plant as you'll find. Its dense tufts of almost evergreen, broadly grassy leaves are often striped. Stiff stems bear tight spikes of tiny blue or white bells, similar to those of grape hyacinth. Zones 5-10
Anemone
Anemones are lovely, delicate flowers that dance atop slender stems, giving them their poetic common name—windflower. Depending on the type, anemones bloom in spring, summer, or fall with pretty, slightly cupped flowers in rose, pink, or white rising over distinctive, deeply lobed foliage. Zones 4-8
Allium
Alliums may be in the onion family, but these top-notch garden plants are anything but utilitarian. Alliums bloom in a wide range of colors (including shades of yellow, white, pink, and purple), seasons, and sizes (from inch-wide heads to volleyball-size bloom clusters). Clustered florets in a globe-shaped flower head are held aloft on a thick stem. The larger allium flower heads are fun focal points for dried arrangements. The smaller types are especially well suited for growing in rock gardens. Zones 4-9
Aster
Asters get their name from the Latin word for "star," and their flowers are indeed the superstars of the fall garden. Some types of this native plant can reach up to 6 feet with flowers in whites and pinks but also, perhaps most strikingly, in rich purples and showy lavenders. Not all asters are fall bloomers. Extend the season by growing some of the summer bloomers as well. Some are naturally compact; tall types that grow more than 2 feet tall benefit from staking, an early-season pinching, or cutting back by about one-third in July to keep the plant more compact. Zones 3-9
Garden Plan for Toad Lily
Perennial Shade Garden Plan
Liven up a shady spot under trees with this easy-care design.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How big are toad lilies when full grown?Toad lily plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The size will depend on the type grown.
Toad lily plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The size will depend on the type grown.
- Why are my toad lily's leaves turning brown?The most common reason for browning leaves is not enough water. Make sure your plants are watered enough, but take care not to overwater.
The most common reason for browning leaves is not enough water. Make sure your plants are watered enough, but take care not to overwater.