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Tricyrtis hybrids

There are many types of Tricyrtis. Some have an arching stem, some have a trailing stem, and some have an upright upright stem. Its flowers can have flat petals, petals that do not open much and are bell-shaped, or petals that open beyond the horizontal and bend backwards (they are reflected). The flowers may appear only at the tips of the plant or along the stem. The color of the flower varies from multicolored shades of yellow, blue, pink and white. Creating categories from this wide variation is difficult, but the species tends to clump together with certain groups of these traits.

One such category to consider is hybrid species with parents in different species and groups. The following is a description of the toad lily species in this group.

Tricyrtis ‘Amanogawa’ (Milky Way Toad Lily) From Japan comes this splendid, but hard to find hybrid toad lily (Tricyrtis perfoliata HTricyrtis hirta). The stiff arching habit of the stem makes this toad lily perfect for arching over a rock or through ferns. The stems are clad, from late summer to early fall, with brown mottled leaves, leading to the creamy yellow, lightly mottled, orchid-like flowers at the end of each stem. “Amanogawa” in Japanese means “Milky Way”. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Tricyrtis ‘Blue Wonder’ (Blue Wonder Toad Lily) Appears to be a cross of Tricyrtis hirta and Tricyrtis formosana. Upright 30″ tall stems are topped with terminal panicles of pale blue-petaled flowers with dark blue spots beginning in September. Spreads, though not as fast as T. formosana. (Hardiness Zone 5-8, guessing)

Tricyrtis ‘Dai Nagon’ (Dai Nagon Toad Lily) This Tricyrtis hirta hybrid forms a bushy clump to 8″ tall.

Tricyrtis ‘Eco Yellow Spangles’ This hybrid of Tricyrtis latifolia and Tricyrtis flava was made by Don Jacobs of Eco Gardens in Decatur, Georgia. Tricyrtis ‘Eco Yellow Spangles’ is a strongly arching plant, clad in glossy green foliage, fringed with blotches of cinnamon. The large, upward-facing yellow flowers are also spotted cinnamon. (Resistance zone 5-7, riddles)

Tricyrtis ‘Empress’ (Empress Toad Lily) This toad lily hybrid forms an upright clump 30″ tall, crowned from late July to September with terminal spikes of large orchid-like flowers…white background flecked with color dark purple.(Hardiness zone 5b -9, guessing)

Tricyrtis formosana Hhirta (Hybrid Toad Lily) Since these two species are easily crossed in the garden, many plants that are sold commercially as Tricyrtis hirta and Tricyrtis formosana are actually this cross. The result is usually a plant that is much more vigorous than either parent. The offspring can inherit the habit of running or herding from either parent. The 3″ long leaves hug nearly 3′ tall stems. In late summer/early fall, 1″ flower branches, white with dark purple freckles, crown the plant. (Resistance Zone 5b-9)

Tricyrtis ‘Kohaku’ (Kohaku Toad Lily) This is a hybrid of two distantly related species, Tricyrtis macranthopsis HTricyrtis hirta. Nearly prostrate 2′ long branches are adorned with deeply veined, pointed green leaves. In late summer, each branch is home to the extraordinarily large orchid-like terminal flowers of dark purple and white spots. Although this is a genetically interesting plant, it is not a great garden specimen, especially in the South East. Maybe it would be better suited for the Pacific Northwest. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’ PP 18,956 (Imperial Banner Toad Lily) This stunning new toad lily was produced as a mutation in Tricyrtis ‘Empress’, which we believe to be a hybrid of Tricyrtis hirta Hformosana. The stunning leaves of Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’ are glossy green with a unique white central variegation pattern. Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’ forms an absolutely amazing and unique 2′ tall x 2′ wide clump even before it is crowned in midsummer with short terminal spikes of light lavender flowers spotted with dark purple. Many of the commercial plants sold this way are actually Tricyrtis ‘White Waves’, which is easier to maintain in tissue culture. Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’ is very prone to reversion to solid green stems, which should be removed immediately. (Hardness zone 6-8, at least)

Tricyrtis ‘Lemon Twist’ (Lemon Twist Toad Lily) This introduction by Darrell Probst is a cross between two dwarf yellow-flowered Japanese species, Tricyrtis flava and Tricyrtis ohsumiensis. The result is a vigorous hybrid with large, light green, mottled leaves that form a stout clump 1′ tall by 1′ wide. The groups are covered, from the beginning of October, with large, light yellow flowers. Fit, is taller than? (Hardness zone 5-8, at least)

Tricyrtis ‘Manten-no-hoshi’ (Manten no Hoshi Toad Lily) Having strong stems topped with terminal clusters of white flowers strongly marked with deep purple, this Japanese selection was developed for the cut flower trade. (Hardness zone 5-8, at least)

Tricyrtis ‘Momoyama’ (Momoyama Toad Lily) The flowers of this 3′ tall Japanese Tricyrtis hirta hybrid are white in the center and pale pink towards the tips, with very few flower spots. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Tricyrtis ‘Moonlight Treasure’ PP 16,037, PVR (Moonlight Treasure Toad Lily) Tricyrtis ‘Moonlight Treasure’ is a new hybrid, created using the beautiful dwarf species Tricyrtis ohsumiensis and Tricyrtis nana. The result is a compact hybrid composed of thick, beautifully spotted leaves that form a compact clump 10″ tall by 10″ wide. Beginning in late summer, the clumps are covered in large, butter-yellow flowers that hang just above the foliage. (Hardness zone 5-7, at least)

Tricyrtis ‘Niitaka’ (Niitaka Toad Lily) This is probably a hybrid of Tricyrtis formosana x hirta, bred in Japan for the cut flower trade (hardiness zone 6-9, at least).

Tricyrtis ‘Purple Beauty’ (Purple Beauty Toad Lily) This probable hybrid Tricyrtis formosana x Tricyrtis hirta produces an upright 3′ tall, crowned grower, beginning in September with terminal panicles of flowers with a white base with many purple spots. Tricyrtis ‘Purple Beauty’ is a loose grouper compared to T. ‘Blue Wonder’ (Hardiness Zone 6-9, guessing)

Tricyrtis ‘Shikin’ (Shikin Toad Lily) This is another Tricyrtis hirta x T. formosana hybrid from Japan. (Hardness zone 6-9, at least)

Tricyrtis ‘Sinonome’ (Sinonome Toad Lily) Tricyrtis ‘Sinonome’ was ranked one of the best toad lilies in extensive perennial tests at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. It works just as well for us in the land of heat and humidity as it does in the cold and windy city. The 3′ tall upright stems of this Tricyrtis hirta HTricyrtis formosana hybrid are covered in leaves from bottom to top. In late summer the tops of the stems host pretty clusters of 1″ purple and white speckled flowers. (Hardiness Zone 5-9)

Tricyrtis ‘Taipei Silk’ PP 18,727 (Taipei Silk Toad Lily) This lovely tricyrtis hybrid comes from Darrell Probst’s breeding program. The 30″ tall stems of this Tricyrtis lasiocarpa hybrid are clad in glossy green leaves, then covered, beginning in September, with five-way branching terminal clusters of 1.5″ wide flowers. Each flower is made up of three rich lavender petals that are contrasted by three smaller white petals flecked with lavender. (Hardness zone 6-8, at least)

Tricyrtis ‘Tojen’ (Tojen Toad Lily) (aka: Tricyrtis ‘Togen’) This is a hardy Japanese hybrid with gigantic foliage that is almost three times the size of most other tricyrtis species and looks good all summer . Tricyrtis ‘Tojen’ forms a massive clump 2′ tall by 3′ wide, topped, beginning in mid-summer, with terminal clusters of unspotted orchid lavender and white flowers with yellow throats. (Hardness zone 5-8)

Tricyrtis ‘White Waves’ PP 20,007 (White Waves Toad Lily) This new toad lily is one we found hiding amongst our stock of Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’. While similar to its parent, Tricyrtis ‘White Waves’ does not have the green stripes down the middle of the creamy central part of the leaf. This results in a more dramatic leaf variety but slightly less vigour. For us, the 15″ tall clumps are crowned in early October with attractive purple-spotted flowers. (Hardiness Zone 6-8, at least)

Thesis Tricyrtis all are wonderful garden plants for temperate to partly shaded locations. Enjoy!

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