Lycoris is a genus in the Amaryllidaceae family from eastern Asia, mainly China and Japan. They bloom in fall and then grow in autumn, winter, and spring and are dormant in summer. Most grow best in the ground and they need summer warmth and some summer moisture to bloom as well.
Lycoris × albiflora is a creamy-white autumn flowering hybrid. Photo by Bill Dijk.
Lycoris aurea is the golden spider lily and originates from limestone areas of China. The spidery flowers face upwards and are a orange-cadmium yellow. It can often be a difficult species to get into flower. It requires a hot dry resting period during summer to promote flowering. Dressings of potash and lime are also helpful. Lycoris are splendid autumn-flowering bulbs when their requirements are met, and make excellent garden subjects and provide a good supply of cut flowers. Photo by Bill Dijk.
Lycoris aurea var. surgens skipped blooming for a couple of years, then sent up two, much larger, scapes this year. It bloomed after all my other Lycoris bloomed. Photo taken October 2006 by Lee Poulsen.
Lycoris caldwellii has pale yellow flowers. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
Lycoris chinensis has yellow flowers and is native to China. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg and J.L. Murrain.
Lycoris incarnata is sometimes called Peppermint Lycoris because it has red and white striped buds and flowers. Unlike many Lycoris, this one is reported to require a hot, dry resting period to flower well. Photos by Rob Hamilton, Jay Yourch, and J.L. Murrain.
Lycoris longituba has white flowers and is native to China. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg and J.L. Murrain.
Lycoris radiata var. pumila is the red spider lily, and has much reflexed, recurved red flowers, wavy on the margins, with long, exerted filaments on tall, naked stems in late summer. Long-lasting and popular with the ladies in their floral art arrangements. Photo by Bill Dijk.
Lycoris radiata var. radiata This is the sterile triploid form, received from Jim Waddick, and common throughout much of the southern USA. Photo taken August 2004 by Lee Poulsen and September 2007 by Jay Yourch.
Lycoris sanguinea Photographed and grown by Rob Hamilton.
Lycoris sprengeri
Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg, Bill Dijk, and J.L. Murrain.
Here are photos of two separate scapes from the same bulb (from Jim Waddick) blooming once again in southern California, showing how the amount of blue can change from scape to scape. The first scape (first photo) bloomed when the temperatures were very hot, mid-to-high 90s F. (high 30s C.), and are more pink. The second scape (second and third photos), which bloomed when the temperatures were unusually low for August, upper 70s F. (mid 20s C.) are much more blue. The electric-blue buds are particularly spectacular. The last photo is of Lycoris sprengeri and Lycoris radiata blooming together, showing contrast between Lycoris flower form and color. Photos taken August 2004 by Lee Poulsen.
Lycoris squamigera is one of the most cold hardy. The flowers are pink with blue tips. Although listed as a species, it is sterile and may be a natural hybrid of L. sprengeri × L. chinensis. Photos taken July 2004 and August 2005 by Jay Yourch.
Lycoris 'Sunshine' is a hybrid that probably involves L. longituba and L. chinensis. Jim Waddick has given this large flowered, pure yellow form the appropriate, but tentative, name of 'Sunshine'. The flowers are 5 inches (13cm) wide on scapes 3 feet (90 cm) tall. Photo by Jim Waddick.
Lycoris hybrids Photos below are of unidentified Lycoris hybrids.
A hybrid with L. × albiflora and L. sprengeri in its parentage. Photo by John Ingram.
L. × albiflora or a hybrid of it. Photo by John Ingram.
Possibly a hybrid of L. chinensis and L. longituba ssp. flavum. Photo by Jim Waddick.
Another possible hybrid of L. chinensis and L. longituba. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
A hybrid involving L. chinensis with orange flowers. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
A group of hybrids involving L. chinensis. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
A possible hybrid of L. chinensis and L. sprengeri. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
A hybrid with white flowers. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
A possible hybrid of L. sprengeri and L. longituba. Photo by J.L. Murrain.
