Spider lily (Lycoris radiata)

Spider lily

Features and Characteristics

Lycoris radiata, commonly called red spider lily, is a late summer-blooming bulb of the amaryllis family. Strap-like grayish-green leaves appear in fall only after bloom is finished. Leaves overwinter and remain in the landscape before eventually disappearing in late spring. Naked flower scapes emerge from the ground in late summer to early fall, each bearing an umbel of 4-6 showy coral-red flowers. Each flower (to 2” long) has significantly reflexed tepals and exceptionally long stamens resembling spider legs, hence the common name. Scapes typically rise to 1-2’ tall. Leaves reappear in fall after the flowers bloom. Plants of this species have a short flower tube resulting in the sometimes-used common name of short tube lycoris. Plants are also sometimes commonly called hurricane lily, especially in Florida, because the flowers bloom in hurricane season.

Genus name honors a Roman beauty, the mistress of Mark Antony.

Specific epithet from Latin means spoke in reference to the spreading flower tepals.

Plants in the genus Lycoris are sometimes commonly called resurrection flower, surprise lily, magic lily or naked ladies because the leaves disappear in summer with the flower spikes seemingly rising from the dead in late summer.

Care and Maintenance

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 6-10 where bulbs may be grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering is in part shade. Plant bulbs 9” apart in fall with the top 1/4″ of the neck of each bulb exposed. Plants appreciate even moisture during their growing season, but may be best sited in areas where soils remain relatively dry during the summer dormant season. Plants will naturalize by bulb-offsets and form small colonies over time. Plants are best left undisturbed in the soil. Plants have naturalized in several states in the southeastern U.S. In St. Louis, bulbs should be planted in a sheltered location to prevent winter freezing of their foliage which emerges in fall and remains evergreen throughout winter before dying back in late spring. Although completely ‘bulb’ hardy in St. Louis, harsh winters may greatly diminish ‘flower’ hardiness, thus preventing the bulbs from flowering the following summer. Lycoris radiata has thrived outdoors at the Missouri Botanical Garden Bulb Garden (USDA Zone 6b), and the culture recommendations set out herein follow the procedures currently in use at the Garden. It should be noted that standard Lycoris culture requires that bulb necks be above ground level for floral bud development in the bulb, so burying the bulbs below ground level will discourage flowering. Pot culture also has problems unless the containers are unusually large and deep so that the bulbs can establish deep and extensive root systems. If containers are too small, plants may suffer from failure-to-thrive syndrome and fail to flower.

Spider lily (Lycoris radiata) Requirements

Hardiness zone	6 - 10
Sun light	Full sun to part shade
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Medium

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Lycoris may take a few seasons to establish in the St. Louis climate.

Uses

A popular outdoor garden plant in USDA Zones 6-10 (where it is typically interplanted with annuals, other perennials or ground covers. In colder climates bulbs should be grown in large containers that are overwintered indoors.

Spider lily (Lycoris radiata) Details

Common name	Spider lily
Botanical name	Lycoris radiata
Plant type	Bulb
Family	Amaryllidaceae
Hardiness zone	6 - 10
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Flower color	Red
Flowering period	August - September
Height	1 - 2 ft.
Width	1 - 1.50 feet