Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - April 20, 2008
From: White Mills, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Non-Natives, Pests, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Non-blooming toad lily in Kentucky
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have had a toad lily for three years and it has never bloomed. What do I need to do?ANSWER:
The genus Tricyrtis contains many sub-species, most of them referred to as "toad lilies." They are native to the mountain region of the Himalayas to Japan, Korea and Taiwan. They are not native to North America, and therefore do not appear in our Native Plant Database. We found this Garden Web site on Tricyrtis, which contains a lot of good information on the plant. They have been so extensively propagated and hybridized that it's hard to know exactly which plant you may be dealing with, but all have pretty similar cultural requirements. They need moist shade, and will respond to drought by going dormant and failing to bloom that year. Because it blooms so late, it needs extra watering all summer. Also, one gardener warned that rabbits love to snack on the buds. Do you have rabbits? That might explain the absence of flowers.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Copper Canyon daisy leaves turning yellow in Spring Branch TX
September 01, 2010 - My Copper Canyon daisies have grown well this year but the leaves are turning yellow. Any ideas?
view the full question and answer
Salt-tolerant plants in Central Texas
September 16, 2009 - Do you have any suggestions for salt-tolerant plants in Central Texas? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Raised beds over lateral lines in Solgohachia AR
January 02, 2010 - I would like to build raised flower beds over my lateral lines. They would be planted with strawberries and perennials. Will this cause any problems with the absorption into the ground or not lettin...
view the full question and answer
Shriveling and dying of non-native impatiens
July 14, 2008 - Several years now many of my impatiens after a month or so seem to shrivel up and eventually die. They are planted in a row and not all are affected. I am not noticing any slug evidence which I would...
view the full question and answer
Pruning of non-native oxblood lilies from Austin
March 27, 2014 - My Oxblood Lilies flowered quite late last Fall. Their foliage is still very green. Can I cut it down now or do I have to wait until it goes brown?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |