Not Mums: The Orchid-Like Perennial For Your Shady Patio Container Garden This Fall

Like it or not, you can't escape the power of chrysanthemums during autumn. Nurseries and fellow gardeners alike recommend them as some of the best fall flowers to plant in pots, especially if you live in an area not famous for any pretty, color-blazing tree displays. However, mums delight in the power of sun, requiring over six hours of it, where they can have it (though exposure to artificial lights during nighttime typically inhibits their flowering cycle). But what if all you have is a shaded corner where sun makes only an occasional peek, if it shines there at all? Mums surely are a no-go, but 'Sinonome' toad lilies can make worthy contenders.

A hybrid cultivar (Tricyrtis hirta x Tricyrtis formosana 'Sinonome') 'Sinonome' is a lovely, fall-blooming perennial that has stellar attributes. It grows hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8 and is often long-lived. By late summer, its long stems are topped by chocolate-purple buds. As fall approaches, these buds unfurl stunning white petals freckled all over with red and purple splotches, resembling tropical orchids. Often providing bright color through the first frost, 'Sinonome' makes a gorgeous fall planter flower if you're tired of mums. Interestingly, in Japan, they're very popular with florists since they work well as cut flowers. They naturally assume a vase-like form, growing about 3 feet tall and 2 feet across. To truly enjoy 'Sinonome' you should keep it close to a shady porch or seating area, since the flowers are so intricate, but be aware that they also attract pollinators, like bumblebees.

As such, 'Sinonome' is a low-maintenance plant that handles partial to full shade well and remains relatively disease-free. But if you're hoping to enjoy a spectacular show during the fall — as you should — you must keep it well-watered. 'Sinonome' likes soils that keep evenly moist, not soaking wet but never dry. Apart from the risk of rot, such patio containers may also become home to slugs and snails if you aren't too careful. On the other hand, if the pot is allowed to dry out in between irrigation sessions, the plant may wilt and wane. You can also avoid that by laying down mulch to minimizes evaporation, thus keeping the soil moist for longer.

That being said, mulching in the fall may be essential for stronger, healthier plants in the spring. This helps insulate the roots during winter, preventing cold damage, heaving out, and desiccation. Once the last flowers fade, trim the old stems to the base to deprive pests of a winter habitat. To keep 'Sinonome' thriving, don't forget to feed it a slow-release fertilizer, especially in spring when it starts to leaf out. Repeat the application in early summer before new buds set in. After it has become established or whenever the pots appear overfull, you can separate the clumps for even more plants.