Resurrection Lily Lycoris squamigera
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Resurrection Lily:
Previously known as:
- Amaryliis hallii
- Hippeastrum squamigerum
- Lycoris x squamigera
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-KOR-iss skwah-mih-JER-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The surprise lily is a perennial bulb in the Amaryllis family, and it is the hardiest of all the plants in the Lycoris species. The bulbs are about 3 inches in diameter and have long necks and can persist for many years once established. The foliage emerges in late winter to early spring with silvery gray greenish strap-like leaves that measure 12 inches long and 1 inch wide and grow in clumps. The foliage dies away in late spring. In late summer to fall, the surprise lily emerges like magic and produces 5 to 7 four-inch pale pink trumpet-like blooms atop the 2-foot tall stalks.
The surprise lily is native to Southeast China, Japan, and Korea and is found in moist disturbed areas in valleys and along streams. It has been available in the United States since about 1880. It was originally, mistakenly identified, and sold as Amaryllis halli.
The genus name, Lycoris, honors the Roman actress and mistress of Marc Anthony. The plants in this genus are commonly known as the resurrection flower, surprise lily, or magic lily. Many of the common names originate from the bulbs' unusual growth habit. The foliage appears in the spring and then dies in the summer, and the plant flowers appear to rise from the dead by late summer on naked stems. The specific epithet, squamigera, means "bearing scales." This references the small scales on the flower petals that cause an iridescent sparkle.
The surprise lily is easy to grow. They prefer full sun to partial shade. When planting, bury bulbs to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. and space them 6 inches apart. They grow best in well-drained, fertile soils, and they should be watered sparingly during the rest period and moderately during their growing season. They will adapt to many soil types. Transplanting should be avoided since this plant dislikes being disturbed. This plant does not need pruning, just simply remove the spent foliage and stems. The bulbs will suffer cold injury when temperatures drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit. To protect them over winter, it is best to apply about a 2-inch layer of mulch.
The surprise lily is propagated by division, but they will not bloom the first year after being divided since the bulbs need to establish new roots. They may need to be divided about every 3 years. This plant is triploid or has 3 sets of chromosomes instead of 2, which results in it being sterile.
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. When the bulbs are planted in clusters, the surprise lily can be a showstopper. Consider these bulbs as a container planting, border, patio planting, meadow, or woodland setting. The flowers are showy. fragrant, and a good cutting flower.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Late Summer and Fall Foliage: Late Winter and Early Spring
Quick ID Hints:
- strap-like silver grayish green leaves in the late winter and early spring, measuring 12 inches long and 1 inch wide, die back late spring
- fragrant, 2-foot tall flower in late summer that has 6 to 8 funnel or trumpet-shaped, rose-pink, and tinged with lilac
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems. They may be susceptible to aphids and lily leaf beetle.
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.
- Profile Video:
- 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:
- squamigera
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast China, Korea, and Japan
- Distribution:
- Native: Southeast China, Korea, and Japan. Introduced: United States
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant is deer and rabbit resistant.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are 3 inches in diameter, fragrant, rose-pink with purplish veins, and funnel or trumpet-shaped. They appear on 2-foot naked stems in late summer to fall. They bloom in groups of 6-8 and have 6 recurved slightly wavy petals and are slightly nodding. Blooms appear from August to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are up to 12 inches long and 1 inch wide, silvery grayish green, strap-like leaves in a basal arrangement. They appear in late winter to early spring, and then they die back in late spring before the flowers emerge.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans