Toad Lilies still plugging along

One the other hand, one of the best displays I have ever seen involving Toad Lilies was an urban canyon created between two old brick buildings. Pots and plywood planters hung off the walls, and arching leaves and branches spilled over the sides. There were lots of other plants there too, but it was an especial treat to view Toad Lilies from below. When seen up close this way, it becomes clear that the flowers are like gems and the leaves clasp the stems.

How Hardy Are They?
Tricyrtis are tough plants, but only in a certain range. Most of them will grow in Zone 7 with some protection. and up to zone 10 where deep shade and deep moist soil is a necessity to keep the roots cool enough to bloom. If they are unhappy they will let you know by turning brown and ratty. Once they are settled they're tough and will live forever.

Increasing
The brittle roots of toad lilies prefer to be left in the ground, so don't divide them up, no matter what the time of year. The best way to increase these plants is by cuttings. You will rarely find them in seed catalogs but when you do you will find them easy, if slow, to start. Do this in spring with a little bottom heat. By mid-summer they may need transplanting to a larger size pot. They are slow in many ways!

Once you have one, you will not want to leave it behind, so If you have to move, remove each plant from the ground with a large clump of soil intact. Wrap in plastic, tarps, cardboard oror burlap. The easiest time to do this is in the spring or just after they finish blooming.

Tricyrtis Species
A few kinds of Toad Lilies are grown in gardens, but there are 15 unique species, all from the Himalayas to Japan and Taiwan.

T. affinis - To 2 feet tall, oblong 7-inch long leaves held alternately on arching stems. White flowers at the ends of these stems. Petals reflex back to reveal all sexual parts (rather tarty). The hardiest, to -20 degrees C or less.

T. flava - To 2 feet tall, leaves are rounded and clasp the stem tightly, and are sometimes spotted with purplish blotches on top. Yellow lowers are borne singly at the end of each stem.

T. formosana - Upright (not arching) growers to 2 feet

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