White Wonder Toad Lily

White Wonder Toad Lily (Tricyrtis formosana var. stolonifera 'White Wonder') is a little-known gem for the shadiest, dampest corners of the garden. It grows 40cm to 80cm tall and wide and opens small, freckled white star flowers in late summer and autumn, when almost everything else is winding down. It asks for little beyond shade and regular water, and it is frost hardy.

Why you'll love it

• White flowers for deep shade. The pale, freckled blooms stand out in dim spots where coloured flowers fade into the background.
• Late in the season. Flowers open in late summer and autumn, filling a gap in shady beds just as the other plants tire.
• Very little maintenance. Apart from regular watering, it needs almost nothing from you.
• Spreads by stolons. The variety name stolonifera refers to the creeping stems that let it widen into a loose colony, so a few plants grow into a drift.
• Frost hardy. Cold winters do not trouble it.

Where it works best

Damp, shady corners. Beside a downpipe, along a shaded fence or at the foot of trees are the moist, dim spots where many perennials sulk and this one settles in.

Drifts under trees. Plant 50cm apart. With a mature spread of 40cm to 80cm the plants meet within a few seasons, and the stolons fill any gaps between them.

Mixed beds and borders. White flowers lighten a bed of ferns and other green foliage, and they carry the display into autumn.

Pots and containers. A large pot gives you control of the moisture and keeps the spreading stems in check.

Growing White Wonder Toad Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade or shade with dappled sunlight. It is frost hardy, so it suits cool temperate and warm temperate gardens, and it can be grown in shaded subtropical gardens where the soil stays damp. In cooler climates plant it in a warm spot so it flowers freely.

Soil. Moist, loamy soil. It likes damp ground, so add compost to sandy or free-draining beds to help them hold water.

Water and feed. Mulch the bed and water regularly for the first 12 weeks or so while it establishes, and keep watering regularly afterwards, because moisture matters more than feeding. An extra layer of mulch before winter is beneficial.

Pruning. Cut spent stems back in winter once they have died down. Because it spreads by stolons, lift any runners that stray beyond their space with a spade.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell White Wonder Toad Lily as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and settles in over its first season, then spreads outwards as the stolons run. Plants travel upright, so unpack them promptly and water them in.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on the page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants for full shade
• Ferns for shady areas, good companions
• What to plant where in a shade garden
• Perennials for a cottage garden

Common questions

When does White Wonder Toad Lily flower?

In late summer and autumn, when most other shade plants are finishing. Expect small white flowers marked with freckles.

How far will it spread?

Mature plants reach 40cm to 80cm wide, and the stolons slowly widen the clump beyond that. Give it room, or lift the runners you do not want in late winter.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Use a large pot of good potting mix, keep it in part shade or shade, and water often enough that the mix never dries out completely.