Weeping Golden Toad Lily

Weeping Golden Toad Lily (Tricyrtis macrantha subsp. macranthopsis)

Weeping Golden Toad Lily is a shade perennial that saves your late season garden, delivering showy blooms when many shaded beds are running out of color. Its arching stems and refined foliage add a layered, woodland look that feels natural but still intentional. The pendant yellow flowers stand out in lower light, giving you a true point of interest along paths, patios, and shaded borders. It is especially valuable for moist shade, where it settles in and rewards you year after year.

Distinctive Features

This toad lily is known for its hanging, bell-shaped yellow flowers with reddish to brown spotting inside, carried along arching to pendulous stems for a graceful, cascading effect. Blooms typically appear in late summer into early fall, creating a rare burst of color in shade at the end of the season. Narrow, glossy green leaves line the stems and provide a clean texture that complements ferns and other woodland plants. The clump-forming habit stays compact, making it easy to place where the flowers can be appreciated up close.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Part shade to full shade, with best performance in bright shade and protection from hot afternoon sun.
• Soil: Rich, humus-forward, well-drained soil that holds consistent moisture.
• Water: Medium to wet, keep evenly moist and do not allow the planting to dry out during summer.
• USDA Zones: 6 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, with arching stems that can drape outward.
• Notable Traits: Late-season shade bloom, pendant yellow flowers with spotted interiors, and a woodland garden character.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Place it near a shaded walkway so the hanging golden blooms become a focal point during late summer and early fall.
• Woodland Borders: Tuck into moist shade among ferns and hostas for a natural, layered look with late-season payoff.
• Containers: Use in a pot in bright shade so the arching stems can spill slightly and the blooms can be enjoyed up close.
• Hanging Baskets: Plant where the cascading habit can drape and showcase the pendant flowers at eye level.
• Shaded Foundations: Add near foundation beds that hold moisture, bringing color to areas that often lack late-season interest.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially in summer, because dryness can reduce bloom and vigor.
• Mulching: Mulch with compost or leaf mold to conserve moisture and keep roots cool.
• Staking: Support lightly if needed in exposed sites, or let it lean naturally for the weeping effect.
• Cleanup: Cut back stems in late fall after frost or in late winter before new growth begins.
• Division: Divide gently in spring if clumps become crowded, and replant promptly to avoid drying the roots.

Why Choose Weeping Golden Toad Lily?

• Late Shade Color: Blooms in late summer to early fall when shaded gardens often have very little flowering color.
• Unique Flowers: Pendant yellow bells with spotted interiors add a distinctive detail that feels special, not generic.
• Graceful Habit: Arching stems create a soft, cascading silhouette that elevates woodland-style plantings.
• Compact Clumps: Fits easily into smaller beds, path edges, and containers without overwhelming neighbors.
• Moist Shade Solution: Thrives in consistently moist shade and turns that condition into a strength.

If you want shade to feel complete late in the season, Weeping Golden Toad Lily is one of the most rewarding additions you can make. Give it rich soil, steady moisture, and a spot where you will actually see the blooms, and it will deliver a dependable late-season show with very little maintenance.