The Hairy Toad Lily or Japanese Toad Lily is a native of the Japanese Islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. In their native habitat, they are found on shady rock cliffs or stream banks. The Genus name, "Tricyrtis," is Greek. "Tri" translated means three. "Kyrtos" means humped, referring to the nectaries which are swollen and sac-like. The species name, "hirta," means hairy which accounts for its common name, Hairy Toad Lily. Over the last 20 years, new cultivars and hybrids have been developed in Japan and the United States. Currently, many Tricyrtis species can be found at local and specialty nurseries. The Hairy Toad Lily propagates from seeds, stem cuttings, or divisions. It has slow forming, creeping rhizomes, and develops clumps of green foliage with a spread of 18-23 inches. The unique showy flowers are white to lavender with purple speckles and bloom summer to fall. They are very unique plants that are excellent as an accent or border plants so that they can be seen and appreciated up close. They are complementary to other shade-loving plants such as hostas, ferns, astilbe, and hellebores. They prefer slightly acid soil with high organic matter that is kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Plant in shade to partial shade. Problems: Rabbits like to eat leaves and buds. The Tricyrtis floral virus, which is spread by aphids, causes the flower to become mottled and then turn completely purple. Anthracnose may cause small orange spots on the leaves. To prevent this fungal disease, it is recommended to keep the foliage dry and water only at the base of the plant.
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.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are alternate, hairy, light green and oval to oblong. They clasp at the base in a ladder-like arrangement and measure 3-6 inches long.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower form
Cyme; Solitary
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flower is small, 1 inch long, star-shaped, and lily or orchid-like. It has six showy tepals (3 petals and 3 sepals). There are sac-like nectaries at the base of the outer tepals. The stamens and styles form a crown that extends beyond the petals and sepals. The color is white to pale lilac with heavy purple freckles. The flower may be solitary or may appear in small clusters (cymes) with 2-3 flowers per cluster. The flower appears on the upper leaf axil and faces upward. They bloom late summer and fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a cylinder-shaped seed capsule. When the capsule dries, it releases 2 or 3 seeds. The seeds measure 1/8 inch in size and appear papery and disc-shaped. They may self-seed and naturalize under ideal conditions. Germination requires about 1 to 3 months. They should be planted at the end of the fall or before the last frost in the spring.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The stem has fine transparent hairs. It is upright, arched, unbranched, and measures 23-36 inches in height.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central & S. Japan
Wildlife value
The flower is pollinated by butterflies and bees. It provides nectar to hummingbirds. Small mammals feed on its new growth.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland