Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow'

Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow': Variegated Foliage, Orchid-Like Finish

With its bold, golden-edged foliage and orchid-like late-season flowers, Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow' brings vibrant colour and refined texture to shaded gardens from spring through fall. Upright stems are clad in bright green leaves edged in chartreuse-yellow, creating a luminous presence even before the first blooms appear. In late summer, starry lavender-purple flowers with speckled throats emerge at the leaf axils, offering a unique and elegant display just as the garden begins to wind down.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 60–75 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm
• Flower Colour: Lavender-purple with dark spots
• Flowering Period: Late summer to early fall
• Foliage: Bright green with wide yellow margins; lance-shaped, arching
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade to full shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, rich, well-drained soil

Uses and Benefits: 'Autumn Glow' is ideal for brightening shaded borders, woodland paths, and part-shade foundation plantings. Its colourful foliage adds season-long interest, while its late-blooming flowers provide a surprising punch of colour when many shade perennials have finished. Pollinator-friendly and deer resistant, it’s an easy choice for extending visual interest deep into autumn.

Companion Plants: Pair Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow' with the deep burgundy-fringed fronds of Athyrium 'Burgundy Lace', the wide-margined foliage of Hosta 'Wide Brim', and the vivid rose-pink blooms of Chelone 'Hot Lips' for a dynamic and richly layered shade combination that shines from midsummer to fall.

Care Instructions: Plant in part to full shade with moist, organically rich soil. Keep soil consistently damp during hot weather, and mulch to retain moisture. Cut back stems in late fall, and divide every few years to rejuvenate growth. Mark clumps in spring, as new growth emerges late.

History: A standout cultivar of Tricyrtis formosana, 'Autumn Glow' was bred for its vibrant foliage and late-flowering performance—offering multi-season impact and an exotic finish to the woodland garden.

Final Thoughts: Radiant in leaf and refined in bloom, Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow' brings structure, colour, and an unexpected flourish to shaded spaces—proof that fall gardens can end on a bright note.