Tricyrtis hirta Taiwan Abdane - Toad Lily

The Tricyrtis hirta'Taiwan Abdane, sometimes nicknamed Orchid Lily or Toad Lily, is a fascinating Japanese perennial with a refined appearance and a robust health. It hides, in the freshness of the undergrowth, a flowering as original as it is delightful. Its flowers, resembling small purple lilies with violet spots, appear in late summer, carried in terminal clusters by flexible stems adorned with beautiful dark green and glossy leaves. This plant, anchored on a powerful stump, is fully hardy and very durable in humus-bearing and moist soil.

Tricyrtis hirta is a rhizomatous perennial plant of the lily family, mainly native to the humid forests of Japan and Taiwan. This highly ornamental species is now widely cultivated in all temperate climate countries, especially in the enlightened gardens of French amateurs. Planted in a rather cool, shaded area with some sunlight, this 'Taiwan Abdane' Toad Lily grows rapidly to a height of 70 cm (28in) and spreads quite quickly thanks to its slightly running stump. The deciduous clumps have flexible but sturdy stems, quite thin, bearing sheathing leaves 10 cm (4in) long, ovate with cordate bases, of a shiny dark green. They are crossed by prominent and parallel veins. Flowering takes place from August to October, in the form of terminal cymes bearing beautiful small flowers with a diameter of 3 cm (1in), star-shaped and well open. They consist of 6 mauve tepals with a white base, intensely speckled with violet-purple, and a central dark pink column, called a spur, bearing stigmas with the same shades and patterns. A white throat occupies the center of the corolla.

The Trycirtis has stimulated the imagination of gardeners: nicknamed Orchid Lily for the shape of its flower, Toad Lily for a reason that escapes us (perhaps because it prefers freshness and humidity, its flower is spotted like the skin of a batrachian, or maybe out of contradiction?).

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

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