If you want to add a pop of color to your shade garden that also happens to attract hummingbirds, look no further than the toad lily.
With gorgeous flowers remniscent of orchids, this perennial hummingbird magnet will add a charming tropical vibe to your outdoor space. Their growth pattern is rhizomatic and clumping, so they will form a lush mass around wherever you plant them.
It might be difficult to find colorful blooming plants for shaded yards. Full light is optimal for most blooming plants. The toad lily's tropical blossoms add a fresh dimension to a shaded, green landscape.
Toad lily is the common name for lilies in the genus Tricyrtis spp. There are over 20 cultivated varieties of the toad lily. However, the most widely available ornamental species are the Tricyrtis formosana and Tricyrtis hirta.
The common name "toad lily" comes from the fact that their flowers are speckled and have sac-like nectaries that resemble warts on toads. Their namesake is odd, considering the flowers resemble orchids more than toads.
Toad flowers attract hummingbirds to shady and forest gardens and look great. Since their blossoms are little, place them where you can see them.
Hummingbirds are most active during August and September, which happens to be the time of year when toad lilies bloom, making them an excellent nectar source and hummingbird magnet.