Tricyrtis formosana Dark Beauty - Toad Lily

Tricyrtis formosana Dark Beauty is a lovely variety with dark flowers derived from the Orchid Lily, an Asian perennial of the forest understory sometimes called the Toad Lily. Its flowers are as unique as they are delightful, like small lilies or even pretty orchids with purplish petals heavily speckled with purple violet. They appear in late summer, carried in terminal clusters by robust and hairy stems sheathed in cordate leaves of a dark and glossy green colour. This plant, with a very exotic appearance, anchors itself on a powerful stump that proves solid and hardy, easily colonising partially shaded soil, in humus-rich and moist soil.

Tricyrtis formosana is a rhizomatous perennial plant of the lily family, mainly originating from the humid forests of Taiwan. This highly ornamental species is now widely cultivated in all temperate climate countries. Planted in rather moist, shaded terrain with some sunlight, this Toad Lily grows rapidly up to 90 cm (35in) in height, and spreads quite quickly thanks to its rhizomatous stump. The plant forms deciduous clumps, with upright and hairy stems, which are quite thick, bearing sheathing leaves 10 cm (4in) in length, ovate with cordate bases, which are shiny dark green. They are crossed by prominent parallel veins. Flowering occurs from August to October, in the form of terminal cymes bearing magnificent small flowers 3 cm (1in) in diameter, that are star-shaped. In this 'Dark Beauty' variety, they are composed of 6 petals tinged with purple, brown on the reverse, intensely speckled with violet, and a central column called a spur bearing stigmas with the same shades and patterns. A slightly yellow-tinged throat occupies the center of the corolla.

Tricyrtis, which lacks neither charm nor vitality, has sparked the imagination of gardeners: nicknamed the Toad Lily for a reason that escapes us (perhaps because it loves coolness and humidity, its flower is punctate like the skin of a amphibian, or simply as a contradiction?).

Still too little used in our gardens, it will happily share with hostas and ferns.  It flowers during the season when most other understory flowers have faded. While early frosts may harm its flowering, it is a very hardy plant that will bring an exotic and unexpected touch to a shaded rockery. Perfectly at home among the round and mossy stones of a Japanese garden, it also grows very well in a pot on a shaded patio, where its lanceolate foliage is decorative from spring to autumn.

Be careful, young shoots are often targeted by small grey slugs!