Tricyrtis hirta x formosana Sinonome

Tricyrtis 'Sinonome', sometimes nicknamed Toad Lily, is a hybrid variety initially developed in Japan for the cut flower industry.  Gardens enthusiasts quickly adopted it because the vigorous and floriferous plant is as beautiful as it is easy to grow in the shade. Its flowers, reminiscent of small white orchids, gradually become stained with purple-red to violet macules over the course of hours. They appear in late summer, for several weeks, carried by sturdy stems adorned with beautiful glossy green leaves. This perennial plant anchored on a powerful stump is fully hardy and very durable in humus-rich and moist soil. Its flowers are splendid and last a long time in a vase.

Tricyrtis 'Sinonome' is the result of hybridisation between Tricyrtis hirta and T. formosana. Both are rhizomatous perennial plants of the lily family originally from the humid forests of Japan and Taiwan. These highly ornamental species are now widely cultivated in all temperate countries. Planted in a rather damp, shady area with a bit of sun, this 'Sinonome' Toad Lily quickly grows to 70 cm (28in) in height and spreads fairly rapidly thanks to its slightly running stump. The plant forms deciduous clumps with solid upright stems, quite thin, bearing sheathing leaves 10 cm (4in) long, ovate with cordate bases, of a shiny dark green. They are crossed by prominent parallel veins. Flowering extends from early September to late October, in the form of terminal cymes bearing beautiful small 3 cm (1in) diameter flowers, star-shaped, well open, whose colour evolves as they ripen, from white to white with purple-violet maculations. They are composed of 6 tepals and a central column called a spur, bearing dark pink speckled stigmas. A white throat speckled with yellow occupies the centre of the corolla.

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

Attention, young shoots are often targeted by small grey slugs!