Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Spider Lilies

Red Spider Lilies, Golden Spider Lilies, White Spider Lilies, Magic Lilies, Surprise Lilies, Resurrection Lilies

Lycoris radiata, Red Spider Lily, Golden Spider Lily, White Spider Lily, Spider Lily, Magic Lily, Surprise Lily, Lycoris aurea, Lycoris squamigera, Lycoris albiflora

A member of the Amaryllis family, Lycoris (Spider Lilies) are striking bulbous perennials boasting showy umbels of funnel-shaped flowers on naked stems in late summer and early fall. Appearing almost magically since there is no foliage to indicate where their bulb has been planted, they pop out of the ground in a pretty array of bright colors and last about 2 weeks. As if refusing to appear with the flowers, the foliage of linear or strap-shaped leaves emerges before or after flowering, remaining fresh-looking for weeks before dying in summer.

1. Select The Right Site

Best flowering occurs in full sun or light shade for most Lycoris species except Lycoris radiata (Red Spider Lily), which thrives in partial shade (especially in hot climates).
Lycoris performs best in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil that dries out in summer. In areas with wet summers, grow your spider lily as a container plant.
Lycoris plants are best left undisturbed in the soil as they resent transplanting – so make sure you select the right home for them.

Guide Information

Hardiness	5 - 10
Plant Type	Bulbs, Perennials
Genus	Lycoris
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Late), Fall
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Low, Average
Soil Type	Loam, Sand, Clay
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance	Deer, Drought, Rabbit
Attracts	Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Lycoris albiflora (White Spider Lily)

Lycoris sprengeri (Electric Blue Spider Lily)

Lycoris squamigera (Resurrection Lily)

2. Planting Your Spider Lilies

Plant in late summer or fall.
Dig a hole and plant your Lycoris bulbs with their necks at or just above the soil surface. Burying the bulbs below ground level would discourage flowering.
If you feel you live in an environment that might be borderline for plant hardiness, place the bulb at a depth that has the “neck” about 2 in. (5 cm) below the soil line. Not sure about your growing zone? Check here.
Plant your Lycoris bulbs about 4 in. apart (10 cm).
Set the Lycoris bulb with the pointed tops facing up. Cover the bulb with soil and water as needed. Protect in colder areas with a deep, dry mulch over winter.

Lycoris aurea (Golden Spider Lily)

Lycoris radiata (Red Spider Lily)

Lycoris incarnata (Peppermint Spider Lily)

3. Aftercare

Water lightly until top growth emerges, then moderately during the growing season.
Withhold water in summer and let the soil go dry when the foliage begins to wither.
Remove the foliage when it yellows and withers.
Bulbs should be lifted and separated for replanting about every 7 years.

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Plant Combination Ideas with Hellebores

Flower Bulbs That Thrive Under Trees

Great Bulbs and Perennials as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons

Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Bountiful Agapanthus

Dahlia: Plant Care and Growing Guide

Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Impressive Gladiolus Flowers

Compare All Lycoris (Spider Lily)

Compare Now

Guides with

Lycoris (Spider Lily)

123rf

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.