Tricyrtis formosana Taipei Silk - Toad Lily

Tricyrtis 'Taipei Silk' is a perennial plant of cool undergrowth. In late summer, when colours are lacking in the garden, it bears a unique flowering with rare colours. Its flowers, resembling small lilies, are white, speckled with red-violet and edged with violet-blue. It is an easy-to-grow and hardy plant that thrives in humus-bearing soil that remains slightly moist (without stagnant moisture). Place it in a location where you can observe its beautiful flowers up close.

Tricyrtis belongs to the Liliaceae family. It is a perennial with rhizomatous roots that naturally grows in Asia and the Pacific. It easily colonises the garden, but without becoming invasive. The 'Taipei Silk' variety is a recent cultivar (2005) by Darrell Probst, resulting from the cross-breeding of two selections of T. formosana and T. lasiocarpa. It was chosen for its unique colour and compact habit. The plant forms a clump measuring 60cm (24in) in all directions. Its upright stems are rigid and covered with deciduous leaves of a beautiful dark green. From August to September, flowers measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, appear in at the end of the stems or in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are remarkable for their structure and colours. They consist of 6 tepals: petals and sepals are similar in appearance. These tepals are white speckled with purple and more or less edged with lavender-violet. The throat is tinged with golden-yellow.

What we love about the 'Taipei Silk' toad lily is its ability to bloom even in shade. Plus, its flowering occurs when flowers are scarce in the garden. This perennial will appreciate the benevolent shade of tall trees, on the edge of a forest, for example, or in a "wooded" garden. Ensure it is always planted in moist soil. It will benefit from the protection of taller shrubs if planted along the border of a bed. Pair it with Dicentra spectabilis 'Goldheart' with its golden foliage or with hostas that offer a great diversity of colours and foliage. Place it in an area where you can easily observe its complex and magnificent flowers.