Toad lily (Tricyrtis formosana 'Samurai')
Tricyrtis formosana 'Samurai' (Toad lily) is a compact, showy perennial for shade, featuring variegated foliage and unique purple-spotted blooms.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ offers significant visual interest through both its foliage and its late-season flowers, making it a prized specimen for shaded garden areas. This herbaceous perennial, known commonly as the Toad lily, emerges with attractive variegated leaves, often edged in creamy gold, providing color long before it blooms. Its value culminates when it produces its small, star-shaped flowers late in the summer and into early fall.
As a Toad lily cultivar, ‘Samurai’ typically remains neatly compact, spreading gradually via rhizomes to form dense, non-invasive colonies over time. It thrives where other sun-loving plants struggle, rewarding attentive gardeners with exotic, orchid-like blooms. Proper placement ensures this unique plant is viewed up close, allowing appreciation for the delicate spotting on its purple flowers.
This shade-loving perennial is valued for its low maintenance requirements once established in suitable, moist conditions. For gardeners seeking structure and late color in woodland environments or deep borders, Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ provides an excellent, reliable solution.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Liliaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-0.75 ft
- Bloom Time: August to September
- Bloom Description: Purple with darker purple spotting
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ should ideally occur in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Select a location that receives consistent part shade to full shade, mimicking its native woodland habitat. This Toad lily requires rich, well-drained soils that are kept reliably moist, leaning toward medium to wet conditions; the soil must not be allowed to dry out during the growing season. Slightly acidic soil composition is preferred for optimal health.
Ongoing care for this perennial is quite straightforward. Routine watering is critical, especially during dry spells, as soil moisture retention is paramount for the lush growth of Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’. Fertilization is rarely necessary if the soil is organically rich. Low maintenance characteristics mean little pruning is required, allowing the plant to mature naturally.
As temperatures drop, this herbaceous perennial will die back. Minimal cleanup in early spring, just before new growth emerges, is usually sufficient for seasonal preparation. Gardeners should be patient; while it spreads via creeping rhizomes to form dense collections, this clumping habit is non-invasive and helps establish attractive patches over several years.
Landscape Uses
The use of Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ elevates shaded parts of the garden that often look sparse late in the year. Their preference for consistent moisture makes them ideal for planting near water features or in low spots where moisture naturally collects in borders. Because of their unique floral display, they function excellently as path edgings or interspersed within woodland gardens where they can be appreciated up close.
This shade-loving perennial pairs beautifully with other shade tolerant companions that appreciate similar soil needs, such as Hostas, Ferns, or Astilbe. The variegated foliage of the ‘Samurai’ cultivar contrasts sharply with the deep greens of hostas, providing textural and color interest even when the flowers are not present. While suitable for borders, they are also effective when planted in masses to create a naturalized effect under mature trees.
It is essential to position Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ where detail can be appreciated; the intricate spotting on the flowers is easily overlooked from a distance. They also make surprisingly good cut flowers, bringing their exotic late-season beauty indoors.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tricyrtis formosana, commonly called toad lily, is an herbaceous shade-loving perennial of the lily family that typically grows in a spreading clump to 2-3’ tall. It is native to shaded areas of forests, thickets and roadsides in Taiwan. Small, star-shaped, lily-like flowers (1” long) feature six showy tepals (3 inner petals and 3 outer sepals which are similar in appearance). Flowers bloom in branched clusters (cymes) primarily at the stem ends but also in the upper leaf axils in late summer to early fall. Flowers are white with heavy reddish-purple spotting and yellowish throats. Broad lanceolate to obovate, shiny, dark green leaves (to 4-6” long) have parallel veins, hairy undersides and clasping leaf bases. Leaves generally remain attractive throughout the growing season. Genus name comes from the Greek words tri- meaning three and kyrtos meaning humped as the bases of the three outer petals are swollen and sacklike. Specific epithet is in reference to this species being native to Formosa (now Taiwan). Common name has a number of possible origins, the simplest one being the resemblance of the spotted flowers to the skin of some toads. ‘Samurai’ is a compact form that is particularly noted for its attractive creamy golden-edged foliage. It typically grows in a clump to 12-18” tall, but will spread over time to 36” wide. Foliage provides interesting variegated color to shady landscape areas prior to the late summer bloom of the contrasting purple spotted flowers with yellow throats.
Tolerances
(No data provided)
Potential Problems
This Toad lily variety is generally robust, boasting no serious insect or disease problems when grown in appropriate conditions. Gardeners should remain vigilant for occasional visits from common culprits like slugs and snails, which may munch on the foliage, especially when plants are young or conditions are overly damp.
To manage mollusk pests, employ routine scouting, especially after rains, and use physical barriers or appropriate baits if infestations become noticeable. Maintaining good air circulation, even in shade, by ensuring adequate spacing, can help discourage fungal issues, although Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ is generally quite resilient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Toad lily suitable for?
The Toad lily, Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’, is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 8.
How large does Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ grow?
This compact form typically maintains a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, with a modest spread of 0.5 to 0.75 feet, though it will spread slowly over time.
What sun exposure does Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ need?
This perennial performs best in environments offering part shade to full shade, requiring protection from intense afternoon sun.
When does Toad lily bloom?
Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ puts on its unique floral display late in the season, blooming from August straight through September with purple flowers heavily dusted with darker purple spotting.
Conclusion
Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ is an exceptional choice for adding structure, variegated interest, and highly unusual late-season blossoms to shady garden spots. This low-maintenance Toad lily establishes easily and provides textural contrast with its richly patterned leaves before its spotted flowers emerge. Before planting, confirm you can provide the necessary medium to wet, consistently moist soil and check that your location falls within USDA Zones 6-8.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions for Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ focuses on plants that share its love for deep shade and moist, humus-rich soil. Consider pairing it with woodland natives like Coral Bells (Heuchera) for contrasting leaf shapes and colors, or large-leaved plants like Rodgersia for dramatic effect. Groundcovers that tolerate moist shade, such as Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’), work well to suppress weeds and maintain soil moisture around the base of the Toad lily.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring marks the time to refresh the soil around your Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ with a top dressing of compost, enriching the soil structure. Summer is the critical period for diligent watering—never allow the soil to dry out completely to support the medium-to-wet requirements. As bloom time approaches in late summer, avoid heavy pruning, as flowers often emerge from upper leaf axils. In late fall or early winter, once the foliage has browned completely, you can cut back the dead stems to clean up the area before the next growing cycle begins.
