Tricyrtis 'Empress'

Tricyrtis 'Empress'

	A modern, sturdy, reliable Toad Lily. Typical flowers with a white ground and distinct purple spots. There is a modern trend to look for a 'wow' factor in plants, an irritating myopic trend that values plants only for their ability to startle or surprise. If that is your thing, I can recommend agricultural electric fencing wound round the garden, to achieve the same thing without the tiresome vexation of foliage. If in your search for a wow you have snuffled and scurried through the undergrowth to Tricyrtis, then snuffle on. This particular Empress just ain't for you! I got mine from an adventure theme park where young children on rides were flung through the air screaming 'Tricyrtis' but this is hardly typical. Plant Delights say: "This splendid new toad lily hybrid makes a 30" tall upright clump, topped from late July-September with terminal spikes of large orchid-like flowers ...white background with dark purple speckles...very cool addition to the fall woodland garden. A rich woodland soil is preferable, but T. 'Empress' is very drought-tolerant."
13th May 2005

Missouri Botanic Garden say:

"‘Empress’ is reportedly a hybrid of T. formosana. It typically grows in a clump on stiff straight stems rising to 24-30” tall. Lily-like, white flowers with heavy irregular dark purple spotting bloom in branched terminal clusters (cymes) primarily at the stem ends in late summer to early fall. Flowers (each to 1 1/2” wide) are larger than the flowers on most varieties of tricyrtis. Each flower features six showy tepals (similar appearing sepals and petals). Plants gradually spread by stolons to form colonies. Ovate to lanceolate, stem-clasping, shiny, lily-like green leaves (to 4-6” long). Leaves generally remain attractive throughout the growing season."


26th July 2005	29th July 2005	31st July 2005

References:

Mathew, Brian - 'A review of the genus Tricyrtis', The Plantsman, Vol.6, Part.4 (1984)

Plant Delights Nursery, https://www.plantdelights.com/products/tricyrtis-empress?srsltid=AfmBOoqmhtnwS3Zt1LJ3FPhLlEhzQpDFbtEwDCI3xIQlU_8_kvc5miF6 , accessed 30.01.2026.

Missouri Botanic Garden, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=267866&isprofile=0&gen=Tricyrtis , accessed 30.01.2026.