“Toad Lilies Are Showing Up”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Toad lilies are in bloom. The Tricyrtis hirta type toad lilies, that I have in several areas of the garden, started blooming about three weeks after the Tricyrtis formosana. The hirta type is the first toad lilies I planted. I had read about them in books, and finally found a plant at a nearby nursery. From this one plant, I collected seeds, sowed them, and produced many more plants.
Since my garden has an overabundance of shade, toad lilies are perfect for those areas. They are dormant in the winter, but come springtime, they pop right up and all summer make a nice green ground cover. But, it is in the fall when they really shine. The orchid-like flowers add some color just when so many other plants are dying back. I made sure to plant all the toad lilies at the front of the garden beds so that the flowers can be noticed. Even though the flowers are small, there is an abundance of them all along the green plant stems. I think this year, when they go to seed, I just might save some to sow in the spring and make more plants. At this time of year you realize that a garden just can’t have too many toad lilies.
Always Growing 
Randy said,
October 6, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Hi Jan,
Guess this is my first visit here.
Love toad lilies too! Ours had been neglected for over 10 years and we moved it into better soil three years ago, now we have the best bloom ever.
Catherine said,
October 6, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I love Toad Lilies. If mine decide to bloom next year I’m going to try collecting seeds from them. I didn’t know they were easy to start from seed.
Lana said,
October 6, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Wow…so lovely! I envy you your garden!
Noelle said,
October 7, 2009 at 12:21 am
Isn’t it rewarding when you are able to grow plants from seed? Your Toad Lilies are beautiful.
Janet said,
October 7, 2009 at 3:52 am
I need to look into having them in the future. They are really interesting blooms.
Sylvia (England) said,
October 7, 2009 at 5:59 am
I have grown toad lilies for the first time this year, while each flower is lovely I am not sure they are garden worthy plants for me. But I will give them a few years – plants are inclined to ‘grow on me’!
Best wishes Sylvia (England)