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You are here: Home / Flowers & Plants / Red Spider Lilies – Lycoris radiata

Updated on September 18, 2017

Red Spider Lilies – Lycoris radiata

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In the deep South, fall brings a bright red carpet of strange spider-looking blooms. You can find them wherever an old homestead may be found or even deep in the woods where an old homestead used to be. The red color adds vibrancy to the waning fall landscape.

Red Spider Lily
Red Spider Lily

Although these bulbs are not native to the United States, they were introduced from China in the mid 1800’s and have been found here ever since. They are prolific in the South.

Though they are perennial bulbs, they don’t always bloom every year. Sometimes only the leaves will make an appearance. Blooming seems almost haphazard, though weather is probably a strong influence on blooming.

In the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), these bulbs can be planted almost any time of the year. The leaves may come up first in spring, then disappear. The flowers appear in fall (September).

How To Grow Red Spider Lilies

In my opinion, these flowers give you the best results when planted in bunches for a burst of dramatic color.

They are bulbs, so well-drained soil is imperative or the bulbs will rot. These plants will grow in full sun, but it seems that part sun is best.

Red Spider lily
Red Spider lily

Spider lilies can be grown in USDA zones 7 to 9.

The bulbs will reproduce, so you will need to thin them out every few years. Transplanting may disrupt the flowers that year.

Other Notes

The flowers appear to be deer resistant. I’m surprised that anything is surviving in my yard this year after a family of deer have made this their nighttime haunt. However, the red spider lilies remain unscathed (or should I say untasted).

These  flowers will last a long time as cut flowers – always a plus, especially in fall when there are so fewer blooming plants.

As with any bulb, be sure to allow the leaves to die off naturally rather than cutting them down. The leaves are what produce the food that allows for flowers, so if you cut them off early, the bulb may not have the energy to make a bloom.

I have interspersed these bulbs (as well as daffodils) in with my liriope to add some color to these shady/part sun areas.

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Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / bulbs, fall, flowers

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Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Mississippi Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With over 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

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