Tricyrtis formosana Autumn Glow - Toad Lily

Tricyrtis formosana 'Autumn Glow' is a lovely variety of the Orchid Lily or Formosa Toad Lily, an Asian woodland perennial that is both charming and vigorous. This variety is particularly decorative with beautiful foliage variegated with light-yellow. It offers a late and unique flowering of small lavender-pink flowers speckled with purple. Some say the blooms resemble orchids, while others think they look like lilies. Anchored on a strong stump, the formosa toad lily proves to be sturdy and hardy, easily colonising partially shaded, humus-rich, and moist soil. 

Tricyrtis formosana 'Autumn Glow' is a rhizomatous perennial plant of the Liliaceae family. Its wild ancestor is mainly native to the humid forests of Taiwan, and it is a highly ornamental species that is now widely cultivated in countries with a temperate climate. Planted in moderately dry, shaded terrain with a little sun, 'Autumn Glow' quickly grows to a height of 60cm (24in) and spreads with its slightly trailing stump. The plant forms clumps of quite thick upright and villous stems, bearing sheathing leaves 10cm (4in) long. They are ovate with cordate bases, glossy, and dark green variegated with cream-yellow. They are crossed by prominent parallel veins. Flowering takes place from August to October, in the form of terminal cymes bearing beautiful small flowers 3cm (1in) in diameter. They are star-shaped and fully open. The flowers are composed of 6 intensely speckled rose-purple tepals with violet-purple spots and a central column called a spur bearing red stigmas with identical patterns. The corolla's centre is slightly tinted yellow. The above-ground, deciduous vegetation disappears in winter. 

Tricyrtis has captured the imagination of gardeners: nicknamed Orchid Lily for the shape of its flower, or Toad Lily for a reason that escapes us (perhaps because it likes moisture and humidity, or because its flower is spotted like the skin of an amphibian?). Still too little used in our gardens, it will happily share the soil with hostas and ferns, bearing flowers during a season when most other woodland blooms have faded. Early frosts are likely to harm its flowering. However, it is a very hardy plant that will bring an exotic and unexpected touch to a shaded rockery. Perfectly at home among the round, moss-covered stones of a Japanese garden, it also thrives well in a pot on a shaded patio where its variegated foliage is decorative from spring to autumn.

Attention! Small grey slugs often target young shoots!