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Tricyrtis latifolia

24 Sep

Tricyrtis latifolia (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Tricyrtis latifolia (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60cm

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Liliaceae

Tricyrtis latifolia is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its mid to dark green leaves are obovate to ovate-elliptic with undulate margins and has parallel veins. Its stems are arching and unbranched. Its hermaphroditic, yellow with red/ brown spotted flowers are up to 30mm across, and appear in the upper leaf axils. Its roots are rhizomatous which aids its spread.

Tricyrtis latifolia Flower (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Tricyrtis latifolia Flower (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Tricyrtis latifolia, commonly known as the Toad Lily or Tamagawa Hototogisu, is native to eastern Asia, including Japan, some sources reference this species as also being native to China and reader input would be welcomed. In its native habitat it grows in moist woodlands, shaded cliffs and stream banks. Tricyrtis latifolia is synonymous with Tricyrtis bakeri.

The name Trictyris is derived from the Greek tries meaning ‘three’ and kyrtos meaning ‘convex’, referring  to the three out sepals having swollen bases. Latifolia is from the Latin latus meaning ‘broad’ and folium meaning ‘leaf’.

The landscape architect may find Tricyrtis latifolia useful as part of a woodland planting scheme.

Tricyrtis latifolia Leaf (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Tricyrtis latifolia Leaf (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically,  Tricyrtis latifolia flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Tricyrtis latifolia prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate alkali soils.

Tricyrtis latifolia requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.

DAVIS Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architecture

Tricyrtis hirta

3 Nov

Position: Partial to full shade

Tricyrtis hirta Flower (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Tricyrtis hirta Flower (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Flowering period: Late summer to autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 80cm

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Liliaceae

Tricyrtis hirta is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves are oval to oblong with entire margins, has parallel veins and are up to 15cm long. Its stems are arching and unbranched. Its hermaphrodite white with purple spotted flowers are up to 25mm across, and appear in the upper leaf axils.

Tricyrtis hirta, commonly known as the Toad Lily or Hairy Toad Lily, is native to east Asia, Japan and the Philippines. In its native habitat it grows in moist woodlands, shaded cliff s and stream banks. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.

The name Trictyris is derived from the Greek tries meaning ‘three’ and kyrtos meaning ‘convex’, referring  to the three out sepals having swollen bases. Hirta is from the Latin meaning ‘hairy’, in reference to the fact this plant is covered in fine hairs.

Tricyrtis hirta (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Tricyrtis hirta (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find Tricyrtis hirta useful as part of a woodland planting scheme.

Ecologically, Tricyrtis hirta is pollinated by insects.

Tricyrtis hirta prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It prefers a moist soil.

Tricyrtis hirta requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.

Tricyrtis formosana

9 Oct

Tricyrtis formosana flower (17/09/2011, London)

Tricyrtis formosana flower (17/09/2011, London)

Position: Dappled shade to full shade

Flowering period: Late summer to early autumn

Soil: Rich, moist soils

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 50cm

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Liliaceae

Tricyrtis formosana is a deciduous herbaceous rhizomatous perennial with a clump forming and upright habit. The foliage is a blue green colour and is smoothly textured.  The leaves borne on arching erect stems are alternate, sometimes two ranked leaves, are lance shaped, with hairy undersides and parallel veins. The flower of the plant appear in the form of branched clusters which are star shaped and appear on the stem ends and lower leaf axils. They are about 2.5 cm in width and coloured white with purple spots and resemble the flowers of a Lily . This plant spreads by means of underground rhizomes.

Tricyrtis formosana, commonly known as the Toad Lily or Taiwanese Toad Lily, is native to the Himalayas as to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. This plant is synonymous with Tricyrtis stolonifera. The genus Tricyrtis was discovered in Japan around 1784 and introduced into European Gardens in the 1820’s. The first European to document the plant was Carl Peter Thunberg, a Swedish surgeon and naturalist. They are found in moist woodlands and have been seen at high elevations in Asia to the Philippines.

The etymological root of the binomial name Tricyrtis is derived from the Greek tries meaning ‘three’ and kyrtos meaning ‘convex’, referring  to the three out sepals having swollen bases. The name formosana is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from Taiwan’.

Tricyrtis formosana (17/09/2011, London)

Tricyrtis formosana (17/09/2011, London)

The landscape architect may find Tricyrtis formosana useful as an understory plant, particularly in woodland schemes. It is particularly useful in shady locations.

Ecologically, Tricyrtis formosana is attractive to slugs and snails.

Tricyrtis formosana prefers soil which is well drained and moist, preferable humus rich. It will tolerate all pH of soils, but prefers a mildly acidic soil.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Tricyrtis formosana their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993

Tricyrtis formosanat requires little maintenance. Large clumps of this plant may be divided in spring while the plant is still dormant.