Lycoris radiata (L'Hér.) Herb.

Red Spider Lily

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Red Spider Lily is an introduced perennial bulb in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). It is native to China and Korea. Red Spider Lily is widely planted in Alabama and has escaped or persisted after cultivation. It can be found around old home sites, on roadsides, in pastures, and in disturbed woodlands. Red Spider Lily is a perennial with an underground bulb. Leaves are produced after flowering in the autumn and persist into the early summer. The leaves are linear, dark green in color with a light silver-green stripe down the middle, glabrous, with entire margins. The apex of the leaf is rounded. Flowers are produced in the autumn after the leaves have withered. Flowers are produced in a terminal umbel of 5-10 flowers at the apex of a 1-2 foot scape. Each flower has 6 wavy, reflex tepals. The 6 stamens are much longer than the flower and curve upwards. Red Spider Lily is commonly cultivated in Alabama. Other common names for the species include hurricane lily, resurrection flower, surprise lily, magic lily, and naked ladies. Lycoris radiata var. pumila occurs only in China. It is a diploid (2N=22) and can reproduce from seed. Lycoris radiata var. radiata occurs in China and also in Japan where it was introduced at about the same time as rice. It is a triploid (2N=33) and is sterile. Plants in American gardens were introduced from Japan, so they are sterile. Plants can be propagated by division of the bulbs and from offsets. The bulbs of Red Spider Lily are poisonous if eaten.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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