Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Botanical Name
Lycoris radiata
Plant Common Name
Red Spiderlily, Spiderlily
General Description
Widely grown in the southern United States for its late-season display of fiery flowers, red spiderlily is a Japanese summer bulb first introduced to the West more than 200 years ago. In late summer or early fall, four to six large, crimson-red, spidery blooms crown sturdy, leafless, knee-high stems. The flowers have six wavy, recurved petals (tepals) with long, upswept, whisker-like stamens at their centers. Hummingbirds and insect pollinators are drawn to the flowers. After blooming, the bulbs produce a clump of fleshy, strap-shaped, dark green leaves, which remain through much of winter. In areas with harsh winters the leaves – and future growth – may suffer from the cold.
Plant red spider lily in full to partial sun in any humus-rich, well-drained garden soil. Amend sandy soil with organic matter. It is tolerant of drought in summer, but moisture is needed during its fall to spring growing season. In the colder areas of its hardiness range, winter mulch is recommended. Its bulbs are slow to recover from transplanting. Red spider lily is a garden knockout that also grows well in deep pots, which allow it to be easily moved to prominent locations when in full bloom.
All Lycoris contain the toxic alkaloid lycorine in their tissues. Caution should be taken to keep them away from children and pets as they can be very harmful if ingested.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 10
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Sunset Zone
H1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
12"-20" / 30.5cm - 50.8cm
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Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Japan
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Crimson
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Fruit Color
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
