Seven of the best
T. hirta ‘Matsukaze’
This variety has particularly large, white flowers with striking magenta spots.
T. formosana ‘Dark Beauty’
A fabulous toad lily with a profusion of cerise speckles on flowers that unfurl from purple-red buds.
T. hirta ‘Tojen’
A toad lily without the spots. The petals are white with a blush of lilac towards the edges and yellow splashes where they join in the centre.
T. latifolia
This rarely grown species has unusual yellow flowers covered in tiny chocolatecoloured spots.
T. hirta ‘Albomarginata’
For added interest this variegated version has green leaves that have pale creamy-yellow leaf margins; the flowers are white with purple freckles.
T. formosana ‘Blue Wonder’
If a toad lily’s flowers weren’t striking enough, this one comes in a shade of blue with purple spots.
T. formosana ‘Taipei Silk’
This elegant variety has a subtle smattering of pink freckles on white, purple and blue petals that resemble tie-dyed silk.