By Kathy Woolsey
Late summer thunderstorms often bring unexpected color to
the garden. Summer blooming bulbs seem
to pop up overnight with names like Surprise Lily, Magic Lily, Spider Lily,
Naked Lady and Rain Lily.
Lycoris are members of the Amaryllis family and are reliable
bulbs here in the south (USA). The red Lycoris radiate,
by far the most popular, is often called the red spider lily along with a host
of other common names. These heirloom plants are originally from China and can
be found in many old gardens. They pop up in September and October so they are
sometimes called Hurricane lilies too. After the flowers die, the foliage comes
up and will stay green most of the winter. The foliage looks very much like Liriope
foliage with a faint white line running down the center. It is important to recognize the foliage and
not cut it down. All bulbs need to have
the foliage actively growing in order to bloom again. Red Lycoris foliage will
die down in spring and this is a good time to dig and divide the bulbs. You will be surprised how many bulbs will be
in one clump. The bulbs should be replanted
soon after digging. The red spider lily
is very tolerant of wet soils and can be planted next to ponds or in rain
gardens.
The Pink Lycoris squamigera
is another old garden favorite. It is often called Resurrection Lily because
the flower pops up almost overnight after the foliage dies. These flowers are
larger than the red spider lilies. The pink flowers are blushed with a faint
lavender color and have a soft fragrance. The best time to divide these bulbs
is just after the flowers fade in the early fall. Be sure to be plant them
before spring arrives. The Pink Lycoris is sometimes confused with Amaryllis Belladonna;
however the Belladonna lily often fails to bloom around here. I have had some Belladonna lilies now for 3
years and still no blooms.
There is a yellow spider lily too. Lycoris aurea looks like a yellow form of the red spider lily but
it is a different species. The golden
yellow blooms will brighten any shady spot in the late summer garden. Lycoris
aurea are larger than the red spider lily and bloom over a longer time.
Lycoris are members of the Amaryllis family and there are
over 20 species, all of them native to eastern Asia. There are some interesting
Japanese Hybrids available on the on the internet. One of these days I am going
to try some of these when the price drops.
All Lycoris have very few pests and are not eaten by deer. They
should be planted in part shade with a little organic or slow release
fertilizer. Once planted, they will last for years and the only reason to
divide them is to share with friends. Lycoris also make great cut flowers and will
last a long time in the vase. #bulbs, #Lycoris, #
