Tricyrtis hirta is a perennial that thrives in the garden. Prepare a wide hole and loosen the soil with a fork. Improve poor soil with a mix of some well rotted garden manure and fertiliser pellets. Plant the Toad Lily at the correct depth – the top of the root ball should come to just below ground level. Refill the hole with soil and heel well in. Water immediately. Tricyrtis hirta will grow and flower best in a partly shaded spot in humus rich, fertile soil.

Tricyrtis hirta in the border

Tricyrtis hirta blooms later in the summer, from August up to the end of October with gorgeous flowers. This 'Toad Lily' looks its best planted in slightly larger groups in a border. You can achieve some really enchanting combinations with other late flowerers. Try your Toad Lily next to Japanese Anemones ( (Anemone hupehensis 'Praecox') and Moneymaker (Liriope muscari 'Moneymaker').

Tricyrtis hirta is an easy to grow perennial requiring little or no maintenance. Just make sure that the surrounding soil does not dry out as this will not be well tolerated. Toad Lilies dislike a limey soil so a yearly mulch of garden manure will be much appreciated. All growth above ground level will die back in the winter. Cover the plants in the winter with a layer of fallen leaf litter. Cut back any remaining stems in the spring and new shoots will soon appear.

Tricyrtis hirta flowers have an unusual form that reminds one of the orchid. The flowers are stellate, spotted, with very obvious stamens.