Toad Lily is a perennial flowering plant that is in the Lili a ceae or lily family. The plant comes from Eastern Asia from China, Korea and Japan in the north as far east as Nepal and south to the Philippines. It is found growing in moist shady locations from the Himalayas to tropical forest. Its favorite sites are shady groves, openings at the edge of forest or along creeks and trails. Its genus name comes from the Greek – tri which means 'three' and kyrtos which means 'humped'. The name refers to swollen bases of the tepals which are nectaries. The specific epithet come from the Latin – lasio which means 'wooly' and carpa which means 'fruit'. As long as this plant is living in semi-shaded, slightly moist, rich soil it will be happy. Trim back dead material at the end of the season. This plant can be propagated from seed, division and stem cuttings. Each is a little tricky. The seeds are so fine you must sow them as soon as they are ripe (October, November in North Carolina). Do not cover the seed. In order to succeed with a clump of the plant, you must ensure that you include next year's stem growth bud. Each stem lives only one year and a bud for next year is produced underground. Cuttings are made by cutting one stem to the ground. Cut it into 3 to 4 inch lengths with a leaf at the top and bare stem below. Insert the entire stem into rooting hormone right up to the base of the leaf. Then place it on top of the soil, and put the pot somewhere the leaf will stay moist. New plants develop in the leaf axil then send roots down into the soil. Toad lilies carry very interesting flowers which have slightly twisted tepals. The coloring is white with heavy reddish-purple spots on the petals and a yellow throat. Because the flower is so striking, place it where it can be seen. Place it at the edge of the woods, along a lightly shaded stream or drainage area. They make good cut flowers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Lack of proper moisture and shade can result in the foliage turning brown, giving the plant a ratty appearance.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Ascending; Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are a showy green and purple speckled. They are the largest leaves in the species, growing to up to 12" long and 4" wide. They are borne directly from the stem.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Solitary
Flower shape
Bell; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1" white flowers with purple/blue tips face upwards. They resemble the blooms of an Orchid.