Lycoris (Lycoris chinensis)
Discover Lycoris chinensis, the golden spider lily. This striking Lycoris features bright golden-yellow blooms in late summer and thrives in Zones 5-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Lycoris chinensis, often recognized by its common name, the golden spider lily, provides a welcome burst of late-summer color when many other herbaceous perennials begin to fade. As a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, this bulbous plant offers a truly surprising display, known for its leafless stalks emerging suddenly from dry summer soil. This Lycoris species is valued for its striking golden yellow to orange inflorescences that captivate the late-season garden.
Native to the moist, wooded slopes of China and South Korea, Lycoris chinensis requires careful planting to ensure successful establishment. Gardeners particularly appreciate the periodic nature of its growth, where strap-like foliage appears in spring, retreats during summer dormancy, and then allows the flower scapes to rise magically in late summer. Successfully growing Lycoris ensures a unique architectural element and vibrant color palette for autumn interest.
For gardeners in suitable climates (USDA Zones 5-9), this plant naturalizes well, forming delightful colonies over time, provided the bulbs are left undisturbed. The dramatic emergence of the bloom stalks gives rise to popular common names like “surprise lily” or “resurrection flower” within the genus Lycoris.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Native Range: China, South Korea
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: August to September
- Bloom Description: Golden yellow to orange
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
When planting Lycoris chinensis bulbs, the ideal time is fall, ensuring they settle before winter dormancy sets in. Plant the bulbs about 9 inches apart, critically leaving the top quarter-inch of the bulb neck exposed above the soil line. The plant thrives in organically rich, well-drained soil, performing well in sandy loams, and appreciates a location receiving full sun to light shade.
Consistency in moisture is key during the active growing season when the foliage is visible. However, a crucial requirement for healthy Lycoris bulbs is that the soil must remain relatively dry during the summer dormancy period when the leaves have died back. Avoid excessive watering during this phase to prevent rot, especially in heavy clay soils.
For gardeners situated north of USDA Zone 5, container culture is highly recommended. In these colder regions, grow the bulbs in large, deep pots and ensure they are brought indoors to overwinter. Plants are best left undisturbed once established; if you move or transplant established bulbs, anticipate a possible hiatus of a year or more before re-flowering commences.
Landscape Uses
The vibrant color of Lycoris chinensis makes it an excellent focal point for sunny borders, providing that essential late-season punctuation mark. Due to its relatively refined height of 2 feet, it integrates beautifully when interplanted with lower-growing perennials or annuals that can fill in the space left after the spring foliage dies down. Consider pairing these bulbs with late-blooming sedums or ornamental grasses for layered texture.
For colder climate gardeners, growing these bulbs in containers is a practical solution, allowing you to protect the desirable Lycoris bulbs during harsh winters by moving the pots into a sheltered, dry location. These container specimens can brighten patios or entryways during late summer, offering spectacular, unexpected blooms near seating areas. If sited correctly, the plants will slowly naturalize, creating meaningful drifts of golden color over successive years.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lycoris chinensis, commonly called golden spider lily or yellow surprise lily, is a herbaceous perennial native to moist, wooded slopes of central and eastern China and South Korea. The strap-like foliage emerges from the underground bulb in spring before dying back in summer, followed by leafless flowering stalks reaching 2’ tall in late summer, holding umbels of 5-6 blooms. The tepals are strongly recurved with wavy margins, exhibiting a bright golden yellow to nearly orange coloration, justifying its common names like yellow spider lily.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
The Lycoris genus is generally recognized for its robust nature, exhibiting no serious insect or disease problems under appropriate growing conditions. The primary difficulty reported by gardeners is patience; plants may require a few seasons to fully establish their root systems, particularly in less-than-ideal soil structures, before initiating their spectacular late-summer bloom. Ensuring excellent soil drainage during the summer dormancy period is the most significant preventative measure against bulb rot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lycoris suitable for?
This species, Lycoris chinensis, is winter hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Lycoris grow?
This bulb typically reaches a mature height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, with a comparable spread of 1.5 to 2 feet.
What sun exposure does Lycoris need?
Lycoris prefers a site that receives full sun to part shade conditions for optimal flowering success.
When does Lycoris chinensis bloom?
You can expect the surprising, colorful blooms of Lycoris chinensis to appear from August into September, exhibiting beautiful golden yellow to orange flowers.
Conclusion
The Lycoris chinensis offers exceptional value to the perennial garden through its unique, late-season bloom time and striking golden hue. Remember that this specific Lycoris species establishes best when left undisturbed after planting in the fall. Before incorporating this fascinating flower into your landscape, confirm that your growing environment aligns with USDA Zones 5-9 and that you can provide well-drained soil conditions.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions for Lycoris chinensis involves pairing plants that look good after the Lycoris foliage disappears but that share similar cultural needs while the Lycoris is active. Since the foliage dies back in mid-summer, consider low-growing ground covers or later-blooming perennials that won’t compete heavily with the bulbs during their necessary spring growth phase. Excellent companions include low ornamental grasses, late-season blooming salvias, or ground-hugging varieties of Sedum that can tolerate the relatively dry summer dormancy requirement of the Lycoris.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Successful cultivation of this Lycoris relies on respecting its cycle: summer dormancy versus active spring/fall growth. During spring and early summer (when foliage is present), maintain medium soil moisture levels. Once the leaves begin to yellow and die back, cease watering significantly to encourage summer dormancy; this dryness is crucial for preventing the bulbs from rotting. In the fall, once the flowers have faded, an application of balanced, slow-release fertilizer can support bulb development for the following year, though excessive feeding is unnecessary.
