How to Grow Toad Lilies

Select a planting location in full or partial shade in areas where temperatures tend to stay warm through early autumn. Plant the toad lilies in a location that shelters them from harsh winter weather in cold climates. Winter protection also encourages them to begin blooming earlier in the season. Make sure the soil has a slightly acidic to neutral pH by testing it with a pH test kit or taking a soil sample to the local Extension office. The local Extension office can also check for nutrient levels in the soil.

Remove weeds and grass from the planting location. Toad lilies prefer organically fertile loamy soil. Mix compost or aged manure into nutrient-poor soil prior to planting the toad lilies. Add sand if the soil is heavy clay. Mix in any other soil amendments recommended by the local Extension office. Till the soil well with a rototiller or dirt shovel, making sure the amendments are completely mixed into the soil.

Plant the toad lilies 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart after the last expected hard spring frost. Water them generously. Continue to water them twice per week or more as necessary to keep the soil uniformly moist. Place mulch around the plants to a depth of 3 to 4 inches to help maintain moisture and control weeds.

Mound fresh mulch up over the toad lilies to a depth of 6 to 8 inches in late autumn to protect the plants from harsh winter weather. Pull the mulch back off of them in early spring.

Divide the toad lilies every two to three years, as needed, to maintain smaller, healthier plants. Dig them up in early spring before they begin to grow. Separate the new plants carefully by hand. Each plant should have a clearly visible crown, where the roots meet the stems, with a healthy root system. Larger toad lily divisions may be replanted directly into the garden. Smaller divisions should be planted in a container and grown in a protected location until they are leafed out and growing vigorously. Plant them in the garden in the summer or keep them growing in their containers until the following spring.