With its showy pale flowers that open from dark purple buds in autumn, Tricyrtis or the 'toad lily' provides bags of late season interest for any part of the garden in light or even full shade. Held aloft on wiry 50cm tall stems, the star-shaped flowers are attractively spotted purple, and rise above clumps of glossy, heavily grooved green leaves. This perennial thrives when planted in damp, moisture-retentive soil and is suitable for growing in shady borders, woodland gardens, under shrubs or in soil close to the pond. It deserves to be planted somewhere such that the intricate flowers can be viwed up close and also makes a lovely cut flower and will do well also in a container. Despite possessing exotic-looking blooms, the toad lily is as tough as old boots although if you live in a cold part of the country or have an exposed garden, it's best to cover plants with a thick mulch over winter. Supplied as 3 x established plants in 9cm pots, ready for planting out.