Overview
Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' is a bushy, clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Tricyrtis, part of the Liliaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' grows best in full shade and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, underplanting of roses and shrubs and flower borders and beds.
About
Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' is a bushy, clump-forming cultivar of the Tricyrtis genus, which comprises perennial plants growing from rhizomes and sometimes stolons. This deciduous plant thrives in full or partial shade, favouring sheltered north-, east-, or west-facing aspects. It prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soils of various types and pH levels. Flowering in spring and summer, it suits cottage and informal gardens, flower borders, and underplanting of roses and shrubs. Hardy to UK zone H6, it features the characteristic star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers typical of its genus.
About the genus
Tricyrtis is a genus of Asian flowering plants in the lily family, with approximately 20 known species. The species are commonly known in English as toad lilies. The genus has a native range from the Himalayas to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan, and a few species are cultivated for their ornamental qualities in other parts of the world.
Wikipedia contributors, "Tricyrtis", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Tricyrtis
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Tricyrtis
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Bushy, Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Underplanting of roses and shrubs, Flower borders and beds
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back'
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
- Pest resistance
- Susceptible to slugs and snails
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back'?
Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' prefers full shade and partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' need?
Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.
Is Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' hardy in the UK?
Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back' has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.
How do I propagate Tricyrtis nana 'Raven's Back'?
Seed, Division.
From the Fenn Plants journal
- Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.
More in the Tricyrtis genus
- Tricyrtistoad lily
- Tricyrtis formosanatoad lily
- Tricyrtis hirta 'Alba'Toad Lily
- Tricyrtis macranthopsisToad Lily
- Tricyrtis macropodalarge-stalked toad lily
- Tricyrtis formosana var. stoloniferatoad lily Stolonifera Group