Tricyrtis hirta Miyazaki - Toad Lily

The Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki', also called orchid lily, is a splendid perennial with white flowers, punctuated with purple spots.

Originally from Japan, the Tricyrtis is also called orchid lily or toad lily because of the numerous spots present on the petals. Flowering in autumn, the flowers offer a wide range of colours ranging from pure white to dark purple. It forms a rhizomatous stump and spreads rapidly in cool and very humus-bearing soils. It likes partial shade and naturally grows in the edge of the undergrowth, under large trees. Behind its delicate and fragile appearance hides a hardy perennial in almost all regions, it is not afraid of frost but tolerates drought poorly in summer.

The 'Miyazaki' variety has a very original flowering. In early autumn, the plant produces white flowers, speckled with purple. The flowers are carried at a height of 60cm (24in) and measure about 4-5cm (2in) in diameter. Also original, the leaves are green with black spots. Still too little used in our gardens, it will happily share the territory of hostas and ferns, offering its flowers in a season when most other undergrowth flowers are faded. While early frosts can 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 grows very well in a pot on a shaded terrace, where its lanceolate foliage is decorative from spring to autumn.

Attention, the young shoots are often targeted by small gray slugs!

Combine it with Blue Angel hostas, 'Honorine Jobert' Japanese anemones, and 'Preciosa' or 'Shojo' serrata hydrangeas for a colorful late season border with exotic vibes.