Lycoris radiata - Red Spider Lily

Lycoris radiata, also known as Spider Lily, Japanese Lily or Red Spider Lily, is a bulb of Chinese origin, often planted in Japanese gardens but less common in Western gardens, perhaps due to its low frost resistance. It is a robust plant in warm climates, less demanding than its cousin Nerine bowdenii, to which it bears a resemblance with its large spider-like flowers. This plant develops its foliage in winter and blooms in late summer or early autumn, with large bright red flowers with very wavy petals and long stamens curving upwards.  It is well adapted to Mediterranean climates and South Atlantic coasts, but it is essential to grow this Japanese Amaryllis in pots that you can shelter during the winter if you live further north.

Lycoris radiata is a plant of the amaryllidaceae family, just like nerines, snowdrops and daffodils. Originally from China, it arrived in Japan a long time ago and became naturalised in the southern part of the country where it thrives around rice fields, on the side of roads or along watercourses. This herbaceous plant has a large elongated bulb (3 cm (1in) wide by 5 to 6 cm (2in) high) covered with a brown skin. Its growth occurs in winter. It first produces flowers in September-October. It reproduces vegetatively by producing bulblets on the periphery of the mother bulb but does not produce seeds. In late summer, for 2 to 3 weeks, the plant produces flower stalks about 55 cm (22in) tall, bearing an umbel of 3 to 10 flowers composed of 6 narrow petals, wavy on the edges and curving backwards. The heart of the flower is adorned with very long, upward-curving bright red stamens. This bright red colour fades to light red or salmon pink over a few days. After flowering, tufts of ribbon-like leaves appear, about 20 cm (8in) long and 1 cm (0in) wide. The leaves die off at the end of spring and the bulb remains dormant until the end of summer. During this summer dormancy period, the bulb must be protected from excessive moisture and should not be disturbed once it is established.

Lycoris flowers make excellent cut flowers and have a good vase life. In southern regions, they can be planted alongside nerines, agapanthus and Amaryllis belladonna in well-drained soil and a warm exposure, but they should be given partial shade under a light woodland or the shelter of a large deciduous bush as they are sensitive to intense sunlight. All of these plants, which are easy to grow in large pots, can be used as focal points on a terrace in an exotic or contemporary style.