Toad lilies, botanically known as Tricyrtis, are useful and interesting plants for shady areas with damp soil. Shade areas can sometimes be difficult to fill, however these hardy and resilient perennials produce exotic looking flowers during summer on upright stems, and the leaves also provide lush greenery to the space. They will thrive and grow back every year when in the correct growing conditions and once they're settled in they require minimal care. It is, however, essential to get them started correctly to achieve good results from them.

How to plant:

— Bare root perennials require light and moisture after transit and should be attended to soon after delivery. You can plant bare root Tricyrtis in spring when supplied, ideally within a week of delivery while they're fresh and viable. If you can't plant within 1-2 days of delivery, remove the plants from the packets and place the roots in a tray or dish of water to soak, then plant within a week.

— Tricyrtis are supplied as bare roots and must be potted up and grown on prior to planting into borders. This will give them an easier start and then they can be transferred into a border once they are more established.

— Soak bare roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting. Then, pot eavh root into a 15-20cm pot with multipurpose compost. Ensure the full root system is submerged in the soil and that the buds/crown is level with the soil surface. If supplied later in spring, pale shoots or leaves may already have emerged - hese should be left exposed above the soil surface and should continue to grow and green up soon after planting.

— Water thoroughly after potting and position the plant in a sheltered, partially shaded part of the garden to grow on. It typically takes between 3-4 months for a Tricyrtis bare root to established in a 15cm pot. It will be ready to transfer once roots become visible through the drainage holes of the pot, or when the plant easily compose out of the pot with the soil held together by the roots.

— Tricyrtis prefer to be in damp conditions most of the time and don't like to dry out, so ensure the pot is kept watered very regularly.

— When transferring into a border, choose a position in shade or partial shade with rich soil which remains damp through the season. Water thoroughly after planting and ensure the plant is kep watered regularly during the first growing season while it's settling in.

— Tricyrtis are fully hardy and there is no need to protect them from frost over winter.

Aftercare:

— There should be some buds or shoots visible on the bare roots when they are supplied. After planting, the buds or shoots will begin to grow and produce leaves.

— Whether they flower in the first year usually depends on how early in the season they are planted and also the growing conditions. If they do not flower in the first year, they should start flowering from the second year. They should always produce leaves in the first year, usually by May.

— When the plant finishes flowering, simply leave it until autumn when the stems should be cut back down to around 3cm above soil level. The plant will become dormant for winter, then regrow again of its own accord the following spring.

— Try combining Tricyrtis with other plants which enjoy damp shade/partial shade conditions, such as Thalictrum, Actaea, Ferns, Hostas and Astilbe.

Read further general instructions about planting bare-root perennials