Red Spider Lily Lycoris radiata

The red spider lily is a cultivated, late summer blooming perennial bulb in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. The flowers emerge on 1 to 2 feet tall scapes in late summer to early fall. The blooms are an umbel with 4 to 6 showy striking red flowers, and each flower is about 2 inches long and has reflexed tepals with exserted stamens that resemble spider legs. After the flowers bloom and fade, the leaves will emerge. The leaves are grayish-green and strap-like and will remain evergreen over the winter and die back in late spring.

The red spider lily is native to China, Japan, Korea, and Nepal. It is usually found in shady, moist areas along slopes and rocky areas near stream banks.

The genus name Lycoris is in honor of the Roman actress and mistress of Mark Antony. The species name radiata is Latin for "spoke" referring to the flower tepals that spread out like the spokes on a wheel. These lilies have many common names like surprise lily, or naked lily because they lose their leaves and the flowers follow on naked stems leading to a surprise in the landscape. The common name hurricane lily is derived from the fact that the plants bloom during hurricane season.

Plant the bulbs with the neck exposed, spaced 6 to 12 inches apart, in rich, moist well-drained soils. In the dormant season it is best if the soil remains fairly dry. Situate the bulbs in full sun to partial shade, though the best flowering will occur in partial shade. This bulb naturalizes easily through offsets and it is quite long-lived. They range from semi-hardy (damaged below 28°F/ -2°C) to hardy (injured below 5°F/ -5°C).

In the landscape, it would be best to incorporate these bulbs in a mixed ground cover or flowerbed so that their starkness will not be so readily apparent. Mass plant it along a walkway, in a courtyard garden, in front of a border, or in other small spaces. It does well to naturalize or plant alongside a lawn. These bulbs require an extensive root system to produce flowers; therefore, if container planting is being considered be sure the size is adequate.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom: Late Summer and Early Fall      Foliage:  Fall and Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• flower appears on tall naked scapes from August to September as an umbel of 4 to 7 showy, bright red tubed blooms, recurved, and the stamens are exserted 
• grayish green leaves emerge in October, remain evergreen over winter, and dieback in the spring

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems insect or disease problems. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.