You would be surprised to see how beautiful a flower can be and at the same time look a bit gloomy but striking. This is the case of the Tricyrtis hirta or as it is also often known, toad lily.
About Tricyrtis hirta There is a lot to say about this flower or plant in general, but we will do our best to summarize the information for you to the most important. This way you will have knowledge about the plant and you will be able to have it in your garden without it dying in the attempt to have a new species.
General data
His scientific name is Tricyrtis hirta, but it is also known as toad lily or tricirtis, these being the two most common ways. More than being a simple plant, it is used mostly as an ornamental species.
The reason is due to its colorful flower that has a white, purple and purple color with small spots. Although the species itself is native to Asia, where it can be found in Japan, the Philippines, the HimalayasAmong other places, it can also be easily found near the banks of streams and forests.
It can usually grow on land where it is directly in the sun, but their life is not as long as those that manage to grow in places with a lot of shade. So it is common to find them under plants already with heights of more than 5 meters.
Features Tricyrtis hirta
- It grows in warm places but needs full shade to grow.
- The maximum size they can reach is about 90 centimeters in height.
- Its stems grow in such a way that they acquire an arched appearance. and with alternate leaves. You could say that its leaves grow as if it were a ladder.
- The toad lily flower is bisexual. It has a bell or trumpet-like shape that is composed of 6 petals.
- The color of the petals can be white or yellow. But regardless of this, you will have spots in irregular dot shapes with a purplish hue.
- The flower opens when the summer ends and maintains its bloom throughout the fall.
- Flowering lasts only three weeks or failing that, until the frosty season is over.
Care that the plant needs
Many of the plants that we have discussed on this page generally require a moisture-free environment or need to be in direct sun in order to grow. Nevertheless, this is not the case with the toad lily.
To be more specific, this plant requires very high ambient humidity, be under constant shade and that from time to time the sun's rays hit it, but indirectly, that is, only the reflection of it.
The care you have to give it are:
At the cultivation level
You have to have it in a place that is very similar to its native place. Namely, the area has to be woodedIn addition, you have to keep the soil as humid as possible, so it is recommended to have a space especially for this plant.
At ground level
Preferably have it in a land where calcareous components do not exist even a little. In addition, It is essential that the land be irrigated with lime-free water, in the same direction and irrigation must be constant.
At an environmental level
Temperature plays a fundamental role in the growth of the toad lily. The good thing is that you can have it in a cold place, but that this is not as extreme as the winter. It is advisable to have it in a pot, since this way the plant can be moved when the temperature is very low.
Finally, the most likely thing is that you want to have a specimen like this in your garden, so you should know that the reproduction of the plant is done through its seeds. Once the seeds have matured, you have to plant it as soon as possible, otherwise it will not germinate.
Now if you have everything you need to have this plant in your home, thus giving a more natural and striking environment to your garden.