Add a colorful, exotic touch to your garden.
A floppy, fringy, speckled style and stamens burst outward from the petals.
Note that all lilies are toxic to cats.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Position each lily with the growth tip facing up and placed just below the soil level.
Light
Toad lilies preferpartial to full shade.
They are often found growing naturally on the edges of shady forests.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
In areas with intense sun and hot summers, full shade is ideal.
Soil
These flowers prefer fertile, organically rich, and loamy soil.
Keep plants in consistently moist and well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Add a generous amount of compost or other organic material to the soil to keep these plants happy.
Consistently moist soil helps toad lilies grow taller than dry soil conditions.
Water
Toad lilies like consistent moisture, and therefore require consistent watering.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Do not allow the soil to dry out.
Water as frequently as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Depending on your location’s rainfall, these flowers may need to be watered multiple times a week.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants can be grown almost anywhere in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9.
They can withstand frigid temperatures and hotter climates when given full shade.
They do well with moderate humidity levels.
Too much moisture can cause rot, while too little can cause browning foliage.
Fertilizer
Toad lilies like nutrient-rich soil.
Therefore, giving these flowers fertilizer each spring will ensure healthy growth habits.
Use a well-balanced liquidfertilizerat half strength.
Adding generous amounts of compost works great as well.
This option also helps the soil retain moisture without becoming soggy.
Propagating Toad Lily
Toad lilies are best propagated through division andcuttings.
Division can be done in early spring, while cuttings can be taken in early summer.
Start them indoors or by directly sowing them into the garden.
Do not bury these seeds using either method because they require light to germinate.
Only use fresh seeds that are not dried and stored.
Because these plants do not have access to underground water sources, they need to be watered more often.
Choose a pot with good drainage holes to prevent standing water.
If the toad lily outgrows its container, you might repot or divide the plant.
Overwintering
Toad lilies are winter-hardy plants and can withstand colder climates.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Toad lilies are not overly susceptible to pests or diseases.
However,slugs in the gardenmay cause damage by eating the foliage of these plants.
Toad lilies usually continue blooming for a month or so or until frost begins to kill the foliage.
What Do Toad Lily Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Toad lilies produce small, white to light purple blooms covered in iconic, vibrant purple spots.
Each bloom is only about 2 inches in size and has six petals.
They form on the nodes of long, arching stems that reach 36 inches long.
Their arching shape and unique, exotic blooms often draw comparisons to orchids.
The flowers have a fresh, light scent.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Encourage abundant blooms by giving plants plenty of compost or organic material.
and keep the soil moist.
double-check the flowers do not receive too much sunshine, especially in warmer climates.
These flowersdo not require any deadheading.
However, even hardy plants can sometimes run into problems.
Foliage problems are usually an indication of moisture management issues.
These plants require consistent moisture levels to stay healthy.
If you notice any brown spots forming, give these plants more water.
Orange Spotted Leaves
Anthracnose may cause leaves to develop small orange spots.
Prevention measures include watering only the base of the plant and not the leaves.
Rid the area of gardening and other debris to give plants better air circulation.
Toad lilies are perennial and return each year.
In most areas of the plant’s growing zones, the plant blooms in early fall.
However, in the more northern regions of its hardiness zone, it may bloom in late summer.
Toad lilies grow in clumps so they do not spread easily but can spread slowly through rhizomes.
Yes, toad lilies attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
ASPCA
Hairy Toad Lily, Tricyrtis hirta.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension.
Tricyrtis formosana.North Carolina State Extension.
