Eye-catching Red Spider Lilies in the garden (Lycoris radiata).
A Guide to the Surprise Lily’s Stunning Late Blooms
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Just when your garden thinks the show’s over—bam! The red spider lily struts in like a drama queen who missed the opening act on purpose. With its spidery scarlet petals and tall no-leaf stalks, this flower lives to make an entrance. Known as the “surprise lily” for good reason, it bursts into bloom as summer sighs its last breath, adding a fiery encore to fading borders. Hardy, low-maintenance, and packed with myth and mystery, red spider lilies are the bulbs your fall garden didn’t know it needed—until they show up uninvited and steal the spotlight.
About Red Spider Lilies
Red spider lilies, known botanically as Lycoris radiata, are bulbs in the Amaryllis family and bloom in late summer or fall. They are known by many other common names, which vary by region, including surprise lily, hurricane lily, and equinox flower because they often bloom near the fall equinox in late September.
We often forget that we planted these perennial bulbs, which seem to bloom out of nowhere as the bulbs wait for the temperatures to cool down and our first fall rains. Red spider lilies spread to naturalize an area, similar to daffodils. They can live for generations in a suitable location, returning more strongly yearly. They’re cold-hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 10.
The flowers on these plants are softball-sized, intricate, and red. They resemble a spider lying on its back with legs in the air—the stamens look like spider legs curving up away from the body of the bloom! The bulbs push out their stalks and flower, then sprout leaves. The foliage returns in late autumn and persists throughout the winter. The leaves die back in late spring, and the plant goes dormant throughout the summer.
Are Red Spider Lilies Poisonous?
Yes, the bulbs are mildly toxic, so don’t chew on them or put them in your salad. Interestingly, red spider lilies have been used to protect crops, as they are toxic to rats and wild animals! They are also deer-resistant.
Happily, these bright flowers draw pollinators, important in a late summer and fall garden.
Planting
When to Plant Red Spider Lilies
Unlike most other bulbs, red spider lily bulbs can be planted any time there isn’t frost in the ground. Whenever you receive them is fine to plant them. If we’re being picky, we might say summer—during their dormant period—would be best, but it really doesn’t matter much.
Where to Plant Red Spider Lilies
Red spider lilies need full sun, but it’s full winter sun they need. Remember, the foliage pops up in autumn and dies back in spring. This unique foliage season allows us to plant red spider lilies in spots that normally are shaded, like under a deciduous tree. Avoid the north side of buildings, as the sun’s lower path through the sky in winter means the north side of buildings will be in the shade.
Like most bulbs, good drainage is a must-have. They aren’t picky about the type of soil but do well with some organic matter mixed in. They can be planted right in the grass or in a garden bed.
Red spider lilies look great when allowed to naturalize and take over, but you won’t see them throughout the spring and summer, so interplanting with other flowers is a good idea. For a three-season show, spring bloomers like snowdrops, daffodils, and crocuses can be mixed with other lilies and bulbs.
How to Plant Red Spider Lilies
Red spider Lily bulbs are easy to plant, even without a bulb planting tool. Pick a suitable spot and grab your hand trowel!
- Prepare the site by removing weeds, loosening the soil with a garden fork, and working with a shovel full of good-quality compost. If using a bulb planting tool in the yard, drop a bit of compost in the bottom.
- Plant spider lily bulbs with the “top” or neck up. Space them about one per square foot, and plant the bulbs so the tip of the neck is just peeking above the soil.
- Apply a layer of mulch to keep weeds down.
- Water deeply immediately after planting.
If rodents typically bother bulbs after you plant them, try adding half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the bottom of the hole and again on top. They hate the hot pepper, but it won’t bother the bulbs.
Types
Over the years, a few breeders have attempted to create cultivars of red spider lily, but the original is so fantastic you can’t go wrong. Choose bulbs from a reputable company and you’ll be happy. Of course, you may develop a spider lily affliction, and wish to add the below species as well!
- Yellow spider lily (Lycoris aurea) shares the same late-summer blooming and winter foliage habits as its red cousin, but pushes forth huge, golden-yellow blooms with the characteristic spider resemblance. It’s a bit less cold hardy, and does best in USDA Zones 7-10.
- White spider lily (Lycoris albifolia) has the same shape blooms as the red and yellow, but of course is creamy white. It’s hardy in USDA Zones 6-10. Look for the botanical name when purchasing, as a different flower, Hymenocallis littoralis, is also called white spider lily.
Andy Wilcox
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