The red spider lily plant – (Lycoris radiata) raises its red umbrellas in the flower borders of the middle south during September, bringing vivid coloring to the land.
The umbrella handle is 2′ feet tall, bearing an umbel 6 1/2″ inches wide, with 5 to 7 red trumpet-shaped flowers.
The perianth segments or “petals” are crisp and recurved, and the flowers have showy filaments and anthers from which they have acquired their common name.
Red Spider Lilies Arrives
Long ago, when Commodore Perry opened the port of Japan, Captain William Roberts of Bern, North Carolina, brought to his home garden bulbs of Lycoris radiata.
As the years passed, the origin of the bulbs was forgotten, and as the flowers resembled those of Nerine sarnensis they were called nerines.
Years ago, some botanists found that the seeds of Lycoris radiata were black and not green like those of nerine, and the bulb flowers were properly identified.
Red spider lilies have been grown commercially in this country for many years to supply the domestic market. Lycoris radiata alba (white spider lily) is said to be cream-colored when opening and turning white with age.
It is the Lycoris straminea species, that has straw-colored segments having pink keels and scattered red dots.
This lycoris has broader leaves than radiata, and flowers on September 1, two weeks earlier than radiata. Among the lycoris family, the gold-colored Lycoris aurea is the last of the lycoris to bloom, flowering on September 25.
The lycoris, except Lycoris squamigera (Surprise Lily) or hardy amaryllis, are rated tender. There is nothing delicate about Lycoris radiata in areas like Tulsa, as it stands winter cold without mulching or other protection. Lycoris aurea also survives, as does Lycoris straminea.
Adapt Well To Sunny Or Shady Areas
Lycoris radiata, straminea and aurea, aside from their excellent garden value in the way of beauty, are remarkable for their adaptation to a sunny or shady situation (but prefer partial shade), drought, or ample moisture, and their indifference to the soil.
Plant During July & August
Plant the spider lily bulbs commercially available, usually during July and August. Home-grown bulbs are lifted as soon as their foliage disappears, usually mid-May.
Shallow planting is a “must,” as bulbs planted deeper than 1″ inch of soil over their tops will not flower.
After flowering during September, the bulb foliage appears and stays through the winter into May. Lycoris aurea foliage winter kills in Tulsa during late January or early February but evidently can store up enough carbohydrates for its needs, as it flowers despite cold weather.
Companion Plants
As lycoris produces no foliage at blooming time, it is a good idea to plant the bulbs among columbines or the hardy orchid (Bletilla striata) to give the red, pink-striped, or golden umbrellas a green setting.
A succession of blooms can be had by planting Lycoris radiata in the sun and shade. When grown in the shade, it flowers two weeks earlier than in the sun. Lycoris straminea (alba) blooms on September 1, followed by Lycoris radiata in mid-September and Lycoris aurea a little later.
A Lycoris Lily Fault
The lycoris genus has only one fault; it flowers when it pleases.
For that reason, you should plant at least a dozen bulbs of a species so that there will be some flowers each year. As far as can be determined, there seems to be no established reason for this lycoris idiosyncrasy.
In the case of Lycoris aurea, which is more reluctant than the others to flower, there may be enough cold to kill the bud but not the bulb. One finds similar behavior in Hymenocallis calathina, which, although perfectly hardy, must be stored at a warm indoor temperature during winter.
However, in the case of red spider lilies (radiata) and white spider lilies (straminea), it may be that planting the bulbs close to their flowering time prevents blooming.
If bulbs are dug any time during summer, they will be found to have no roots and will be as thoroughly dormant as tulip bulbs. Speaking of bulbs, don’t forget to plant fall bulbs for spring color.
Lycoris flowers are not only decorative in the garden but are of high value for flower arrangements. No flower, unless it is an orchid, has the keeping qualities of Lycoris radiata and its similar species.
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