First spider lily in flower
September 30, 2010
About two weeks after the big show of oxblood lilies (though a few of mine are still flowering), the spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) have unfurled their frilly, red parasols.
I’ve carried these bulbs with me through three moves in Austin. They were planted in the garden of our first home here by some unknown, long-ago gardener and surprised me that first fall by popping up in a border of liriope. They dislike being divided or transplanted and tend to sulk for a couple of years, leading me to forget about them until—surprise!—they reappear a few years later.
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Oh me oh my – I was missing these and didn’t even realize it. My Dad had a few of these he’d gotten as passalong plants. He thought he’d killed them then a year or so later was equally surprised by their wonderful blooms. There is nothing quite like these beauties – they are going on my “Will Have Someday” list!
They’re a bit elusive but worth the trouble when you see a large clump in bloom. Now that I’ve finally gotten a couple of blooms, after two years of watching them sulk, I’m planning to leave them alone for a while to see if I can get a bigger show next time. —Pam
Such exotic blooms and you are right, they do sulk. I planted mine 3 years ago and they just flowering. Unfortunately only two. Does this mean they will now flower every year.
They should, Jenny. Mine have been reliable if I leave them alone for a while. Resist the temptation to divide for a few years! —Pam
My passalong bulbs have been in a couple of years – the ones in the front butterfly bed are blooming now, but I haven’t taken a decent photo yet… my camera finds that red very elusive but you caught it, Pam!
Did you see leaves in the non-blooming years? I planted them in several places and one patch has never sent up winter leaves, let alone flowers – maybe all the rain rotted the bulbs.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Yes, even when they didn’t bloom, I did see leaves so I knew the bulbs were healthy. If you’re not seeing leaves in the fall, that could mean trouble. But I’m glad you have some in bloom out front. —Pam
Mine were also planted by an unknown, long-ago gardener, and last week is the first time I’ve noticed them blooming in the 20 years I’ve lived in this house. Thanks for the information about dividing and transplanting!
Now that’s the longest dormancy period I’ve heard of, Iris. Crazy, isn’t it? But what a nice surprise when they finally decided the time was right. —Pam
Just beautiful, my passalongs from last year must still be sulking so your post gives me something to look forward to in another year or so.
Yep, patience is the key. I hope you see blooms next fall. —Pam
I love those little surprises…and those stamens…wow!
Seasonal surprises do make gardening more fun. —Pam
My six are finally blooming after sulking for a year. We also call them hurricane lilies because they bloom during hurricane season.
I’ve heard that name too, Darla. —Pam
Years ago my mom used to have these growing in her yard & would bring the cut flowers to me in a vase to enjoy. I was surprised to find one blooming in my yard this year. And then a few days later I noticed three more in a different spot. We’ve been living here 20 years (before that the land was undeveloped) & I never planted them. Possibly the birds spread the seed …
Here’s some interesting trivia from Wikipedia: Legends of the Red Spider Lily
“Since these scarlet flowers usually bloom near cemeteries around the autumnal equinox, they are described in Chinese and Japanese translations of the Lotus Sutra as ominous flowers that grow in Diyu (also known as Hell) and guide the dead into the next reincarnation.
When the flowers of lycoris bloom, their leaves would have fallen; when their leaves grow, the flowers would have wilted. This habit gave rise to various legends. A famous one is the legend of two elves: Mañju, who guarded the flower, and Saka, who guarded the leaves. Out of curiosity, they defied their fate of guarding the herb alone, and managed to meet each other. At first sight, they fell in love with each other. Amaterasu, exasperated by their waywardness, separated the miserable couple, and laid a curse on them as a punishment: the flowers of Mañju shall never meet the leaves of Saka again. It was said that when the couple met after death in Diyu, they vowed to meet each other after reincarnation. However, neither of them could keep their words. In commemoration of the couple, some call the herbs ‘Mañjusaka’, a mixture of ‘Mañju’ and ‘Saka’.
Some other legends have it that when you see someone that you may never meet again, these flowers, also called red spider lilies, would bloom along the path. Perhaps because of these sorrowful legends, Japanese people often used these flowers in funerals.”
Interesting about the legends. Thanks for sharing them. And you’re the second person who’s told me about spider lilies popping up after 20 years. That’s amazing. —Pam
I LOVE spider lilies- funny I just mentioned them in my blog! You take great photos. How fun to have taken them with you house to house and they still come up!!!!
Thanks, Kacky. Spider lilies are on quite a few Austin blogs right now, having their season in the sun. —Pam
That’s good to know re: the sulking period; mine are recently planted and produced only a single bloom; now I have hope for better shows in future times.
Me too, for that matter. —Pam
It’s amazing!!!
Thanks, Megan. —Pam
Mine finally popped up this week as well (I was beginning to think they wouldn’t). I was surprised to see how many of them were in bloom in Dallas two weeks ago, which seemed either early or made mine seem late. Maybe it had something to do with the rain they had. Spider lilies are such a nice surprise, aren’t they?
How nice to see bunches of them in Dallas. Looks like my show is going to be on the small side again this year. —Pam
I too have some Hurricane Lilies blooming. Some of them are in the most unusual places. I had dug up some bulbs where I wanted to plant veggies so I put the bulbs in a temporary container this past Spring. Lo & behold 2 popped up blooming in this container. I do have them other places of surprise. They are pass a longs from Ala.
These bulbs get around, don’t they? Funny that yours didn’t mind popping up in a container. They’re usually so picky about being moved. —Pam
Very beautiful flower. What a nice surprise! Great pictures.
Thanks, Candy. —Pam
Gorgeous! I love the first image where the background makes everything look like glittering jewels. I got a few bulbs of the Midwestern version of surprise lilies at the Hardy Plant swap a couple of weeks ago. Looking forward to surprise blooms down the road.
The plant in the background is ‘Diamond Frost’ euphorbia, Linda, so it’s appropriate that it looked like glittering jewels, isn’t it? —Pam
Your pictures of them are sublime. I planted some two years ago, and I have yet to see them, but I know they’re there. I also have more bulbs to put in a side border. We’ll see what comes up. Hope you’re having a beautiful Saturday my friend.
You’ll have a beautiful display with all those bulbs you’re putting in, Dee. I look forward to seeing pics next spring (and fall?). —Pam
Well, I am so glad to hear that the lilies sulk for a while. I always thought I had a pretty green thumb. My Mother who has passed had them where I grew up and I was married Sept. 30, 1960. They were in my arrangement on our wedding table. Was weird to hear they are used for funerals. She moved them to her new house 20 years ago and they have been blooming like crazy. I have been trying so hard. I planted some last year, but now only see leaves starting to come up. My leaves never seem to get as dense as hers. Should you use a special soil and how deep, I have gotten more bulbs to plant. Thanks
Grace, I think you just need to be patient. They don’t like to be moved and tend not to bloom for a year or two until they get all settled in again. I never planted mine in anything but the black gumbo clay my home sat on, and I followed the usual rule of planting them twice as deep as their height. I think they like having a little shade in the afternoon. Other than that, just wait and see if you get any blooms next year, and don’t move them in the meantime. —Pam
PS I don’t have 20 more years probably
That would be an awfully long time to wait for a bulb to bloom anyway! —Pam