Lycoris aurea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-KOR-iss OR-re-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Golden Spider Lily is a bulb that produces showy orange-yellow blooms on tall stems in August and September that seem to appear out of nowhere. The basal narrow leaves grow after blooming and last through spring when they die down and the bulb needs a hot dry resting period. In areas with wet summers or areas north of its hardiness zone, it is best to grow in pots.
Plant these bulbs to a depth of 8 inches in groups of 3 to 5. They prefer full sun to part sun in well-drained fertile soils. Be sure to choose a permanent spot for them as they dislike being transplanted. Mulch well in the northern ranges in winter.
Propagate by division or seed. It can take five years from seed to blooming though so division is best.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lycoris
- Species:
- aurea
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Lycorine has also been used in Asian folk medicine as a diuretic and expectorant.
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- They may or may not set seed as not all are fertile.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large spidery upward-facing funnel-shaped blooms in groups of 5-6 appear in August- September. The blooms are yellow-orange and have 6 recurved and wavy petals with long curved stamens. They can be up to 6 inches in size.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal, narrowly strap-like, fleshy leaves appear after the blooms and last until spring.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Tall round green stem without leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
