Tricyrtis 'Empress' Toad Lily

Truly deserving of the name, 'Empress' is the most beautiful toad lily in the world. 'Empress' is a fabulous large-flowered variety that will transform that dull late-summer-to-early-fall season into prime time for the shade garden. Stunning color contrast, distinctive markings, and sheer petal size set this toad lily apart from all others.

'Empress' sets blooms in huge clusters of 5 to 7. Each flower is about 1½ inches across with petals of pure white, neatly spotted with maroonish purple and tipped with deep purple. Clearly and uniformly marked, they're right at home in a formal setting, yet their beauty is so irresistible that you'll want them in the most informal mixed shade planting as well. The flowers begin in late summer, just as other perennials are giving up for the season, and the show continues on into fall.

This toad lily thrives in partial shade, but is quite happy in punishing heat and humidity, provided it gets adequate water during dry spells. A rapid colonizer, it will soon be offering dozens and then hundreds of blooms from your original planting. Reaching 18 to 30 inches tall and about 12 to 24 inches wide, 'Empress' fills space quickly, making it a great choice for a ground cover as well as an accent planting on the patio or in the border. Terrific in containers, too, where you can enjoy the exquisite detailing of the blooms up close.

'Empress' is a fine companion in the shade garden to everything from hostas to ferns and makes a fine succession planting for heucheras. Long-lived, quick spreading, and almost unbelievably elegant, this is a perennial you must try in your choicest shady garden spots.

Space these plants about a foot apart, or slightly wider if you want to let them fill in. (They're happy to oblige) Best in ordinary, well-drained garden soil, they need water during prolonged dry spells, but are otherwise quite carefree.