Tritsirtis is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant from the large Liliaceae family, of which there are about 20 species. Most of them are wild-growing, and some are grown as garden crops. These exquisite flowers resemble orchids, but they are much more unpretentious in care.
In Greek, the word tricirtis is read as “three tubercles” - it got its name due to the fact that this flower has three nectaries. The plant comes from eastern countries, most often found in the Himalayas and Japan. As garden flowers, tricirtis have been grown since the 9th century, but gained great popularity only in the 20th century.
Names of Tricirtis
Tricirtis has three more names:
- In the Philippines, this beautiful flower is called “toad lily,” as locals use its juice for bait when they hunt for toads eaten.
- In Japan, it is called the “cuckoo” because of the colorful color, reminiscent of the plumage of this bird.
- In Europe it is called a “garden orchid” because of the interesting, original form of this elegant flower, which, although outwardly not similar to an orchid, but is very reminiscent of it in beauty and features.
Description of Tricirtis
Tritsirtis - refers to unpretentious decorative, flowering plants. It grows in forest shaded places, loves moist, peaty soil. He tolerates a dry period, but frosty winters are too severe a test for him.
The root system is not deep, well developed, able to recover. The stem is straight (there are branched), cylindrical, thin, with a height of 60 to 100 cm, sometimes more.
Leaves without stalks, twist the stems along the entire length. Their shape is oval or elongated (belt-shaped). Length can be up to 15 cm, width up to 5 cm. Large flowers have the shape of a funnel, can be located one at a time or collected in inflorescences. Their color is bright, can be monophonic (white, pink, beige, purple, blue) or with dark dots, most often purple.
In autumn, fruits with black or brown seeds appear, which are in oblong capsules.
Many wild-growing species of this flower are found in remote forests of the subtropical zone. Therefore, to this day, botanists are finding new previously unknown specimens.
The most common and winter-hardy types of tricirtis
In appearance, different varieties of tricirtis are not much different.
They are divided into several groups having common characteristic features. Most of them are heat-loving, and winter-hardy varieties are also found.
| View | Description |
| Yellow (Tricyrtis flava) (frost resistant) | The stems are straight, sometimes also branched, height 25-50 cm. The flowers are monophonic yellow or speckled, located at the top of the stems, collected in inflorescences of several pieces. |
| Hairy (Tricyrtis pilosa) | Reaches 60-70 cm. Flowers are snow-white with purple spots. It is rarely grown as a cultivated plant. |
| Short-haired hirta (Tricyrtis hirta) (winter hardy) | Originally from the Japanese subtropics. Most often grown by gardeners, because it is hardy even in difficult weather conditions. The stems are branched, with short light pubescence, height 40-80 cm. The leaves are oval, inclined. Hirta flowers are relatively small, white petals with purple dots. There are several buds in inflorescences, and one on top of the stem. The roots quickly grow underground horizontal shoots. |
| Dark-legged Dark Beauty | The flowers are tiny, mostly saturated dark color (raspberry, purple), there are light spots. |
| Formosa (beautiful, Taiwanese) (Tricyrtis formosana) | Flowers are different - white, lilac, pink with burgundy or brown dots. Stems up to 80 cm tall are hairy, with oval leaves. One of the most unpretentious varieties. |
| Purple Beauty | Plants of this variety are not high; their leaves are leathery. The flowers are white with purple spots, the petals are half fused. |
| Broadleaf (Tricyrtis latifolia) (winter hardy) | The most frost-resistant variety. Stems up to 60 cm. The flowers are white-green, collected in inflorescences. |
| Broadleaf (Yellow Sunrise) (hardy) | The flowers are yellow with brown spots. Stems up to 80 cm. Leaves are ovate, leathery. |
Landing of tricirtis
Despite the fact that these plants are quite hardy, in those regions where early autumn frosts are constant, the flowering period will be short. Because it occurs in the second half of summer and the main falls in the fall, it continues until it is warm. It is possible to prolong flowering only with tub planting.
They land in open ground where September is rather warm.
Choosing a place for landing in the open ground
It is better to plant these plants in places where most of the day is partial shade, next to trees.
A great place for them is a garden with tall trees. They love loose forest soil with humus from leaves, peat bogs, and chernozem.
Do not tolerate stagnation of water at the roots, drafts. Therefore, the area under them must be selected protected from the wind, as well as with sufficient lighting during the afternoon.
Breeding methods
You can propagate tricirtis:
- Seed in the ground. Sowing is carried out in autumn, only freshly harvested ones are suitable (last year's seed has low germination). You can plant in the spring, but before sowing, you need to catch up the seeds, keeping them in the refrigerator on the lower shelf for three weeks. The method of planting seeds is ineffective.
- Seedlings. Seeds treated with a growth stimulant are planted in peat pots in February. Transplanted into the ground when a steady warm weather is established in the spring. Flowering occurs in 1-2 years.
- Division of rhizomes. In autumn or spring, with a shovel, a part of the root with a process is separated and planted elsewhere. Such a landing gives the best result. Plants take root well, flowering faster.
- Cuttings. In early spring, root cuttings are suitable, in the summer - you can take stem. The cut sites are treated with growth stimulants (Kornevin) and the cuttings are planted in the ground. The roots germinate and strengthen within a month.
Growing and caring for tricirtis
With the right choice of place, all other worries about this plant come down to:
- regular watering - cultivation is possible even in arid areas, but provided that the soil around the plant is always moist;
- weeding, loosening the soil (which is recommended after each watering);
- top dressing (humus, peat, mineral fertilizers are suitable, but fresh manure cannot be used);
- Removing dried, damaged flowers.
How Tritsirtis tolerates the winter
In the climatic conditions of the middle zone, where severe frosts often occur, these plants must be covered for the winter. Otherwise, the rhizomes will freeze.
For shelter, agrofibre or a thick layer of peat is used. Species such as yellow do not require frost protection.
Young shoots are susceptible to high temperatures, they must not be allowed to overheat. Therefore, in the early spring, when it is already getting warm, it is necessary to remove the insulation.
The soil can be protected from overheating by mulching with a pine bark.
Pests and diseases of tricirtis
Tritsirtis are quite resistant to pests. Most often, they disappear due to abundant watering in hard soil, when the water stagnates and the roots rot. To prevent this from happening, you need to make good drainage from gravel, branches and sand under the flowerbed.
The danger is represented by snails and slugs, which eat leaves up to holes. Mulch from crushed egg shells and tree bark can protect against them - they interfere with the movement of these pests.
Tritsirtisy do not require much care when planting and care in the open ground. These plants can decorate any personal landscape. Tritsirtis look best in group plantings. They are well planted near ponds, next to ornamental shrubs and trees. For those who have little time for constant chores with the improvement of flower beds, such perennials are a real find.
