Tricyrtis 'Dark Beauty'

Tricytris, or Toad-lilies, are unique and easy perennials for growing in shady areas. Leafy, arching stems produce a fall display of bizarre star-shaped flowers, almost orchid-like, excellent for cutting. They deserve a special place where they can be appreciated up close, like beside a patio or at the edge of a bed. This late-flowering selection features deep lavender-mauve flowers, heavily spotted in purple. It performs excellently in cool, moist, shady garden conditions. Bloom VERY LATE in the season.

Botanical name: Tricyrtis formosana x hirta hybrid  'Dark Beauty' 
Form: Perennial
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Flower Color: White, purple spots
Foliage Type: Shiny, oval to oblong with parallel veins and clasping leaf bases, ladder-like arrangement 
Bloom time: September-October
Height: 30 inches 
Spread: 23 inches
Light requirements: Partial shade
Plant depth: 3 inches of soil over the root crown 

See "Growing Tips" for more detailed instructions

Tips and Growing Instructions

Visit our How-To Cultivation Library for more growing tips.

Toad lilies need soil that is rich in organic matter, part- to full shade and consistent moisture. The plants need no staking or deadheading. In good light, organically rich soil, they need no fertilizing. A layer of mulch will help keep the soil steadily moist, although it should not be piled against the stems. Toad lilies are easy to multiply by division: A clump can be split in spring and be ready to bloom by late summer.

All the shade standards are good companions for toad lilies: hostas, ferns, Solomon's seal, sedges, brunnera, and lungwort. Or plant them among spring bulbs and ephemeral wildflowers such as Virginia bluebells. As the spring bloomers' foliage goes dormant, the toad lilies' stately stems will take over. They are particularly engaging by a path or sidewalk where you pass them every day. As the days grow short and the shade deepens, their undaunted bloom keeps spirits bright.

Shipping