toadlily Interesting Notes

Its style (as in a plant's sexual parts) looks like a giraffe's neck, its anthers look like the eyes on a slug, its stamens arch like showerheads, and its six differently shaded petals (actually tepals) alternate like men and women at a dinner table. This whole surrealistic fantasy stands on three pairs of green rubber boots (swollen spurs that are part of the petals), which, kicked three times, reveal the source of the plant's Latin name: tri, meaning three, and kyrtos, meaning humped. Ketzel Levine

Common name either from spotted flowers resembling toads, or to use in Phillipines by native tribes to run on hands as a frog attractant before collecting frogs; genus name from Greek words for three and convex, referring to shape of 3 outer tepals. Perry's Perennial Pages

Tricyrtis 'Sinonome' Growing and Maintenance Tips

Tricyrtis can be found as far south as Texas. This exotic perennial prefers moist to wet, well-drained, slightly acidic soils in partial shade. Do not let soil dry out. Propagate by seed or division. Best used as a border perennial, in shade or naturalized gardens.

Good Substitutions

Tricyrtis formosana 'Samurai'

Tricyrtis hirta Miyazaki Hybrids

Tricyrtis formosana 'Gilt Edge'