I have been collecting and growing tricyrtis species and cultivars for some years now, adding a new one or two to my gardens each year. Some have come and gone on their own. On occasion one will simply not be there after winter. With a very few I think it has simply been old age and lack of care. Most, however, have been very long lived for me and Tricyrtis latifolia has been very dependable over the years.
This species is from China and Japan but has adapted well to North America. Plants are upright in form reaching just under two feet in height. Individual leaves are broadly ovate in outline and may reach five to six inches in length. Foliage is a light green that can approach chartreuse with a highly polished surface looking as though garden fairies spent the night waxing each leaf. Leaves are heavily veined adding to overall texture.
It has not only been reliable, but also has the honors of being first to bloom each season in my garden. Most tricyrtis, or toad-lilies, are late summer and early fall blooming, but June is when I look forward to seeing first blooms of the Early Toad-lily. Depending upon the weather my early toad-lily comes into bloom the middle to latter part of June. Flowers are in cymes held well above the leaves. The gentle clear yellow of each flower has brown freckles and resembles an exotic orchid. While the flowers are plentiful they are not forceful in color, adding a quiet comment to a shady nook beneath a dogwood. Whether by sign language, winking, or verbal means, the early toad-lily does communicate well enough with insects to be pollinated each season. I find seed pods each year and an occasional seedling in the area.
Since the blooms are quiet in color I have my tricyrtis latifolia located near a path where it can be seen close up. Before planting I dug in a generous amount of composted pine bark and any other organic matter I could find to a depth of about twelve inches. After the plants were in place (I generally plant in threes) I watered well and then mulched with more organic matter such as chopped leaves or hardwood mulch. A touch of organic fertilizer is helpful as well. I only water when we are obviously drifting into a drought.
The red stemmed lady fern (Athyrium felix-forma ‘Lady in Red’), or Eared lady fern (A. otophorum) are two my favorite ferns to use as companions. Almost any Hosta with blue foliage would work as long as it was a solid blue leaf. Some height in the background would be nice and Actaea ‘Black Negligee’ with its purple-black over green cut foliage would certainly add intrigue. Throw in a couple of the new Heuchera with the broad leaves such as ‘Autumn Bride’ and perfection is not far away.