How to Grow Lycoris Plants
Guide to Growing Cluster Amaryllis, Hurricane Lily and Spider Lily
Lycoris are grown as hardy bulbs in the garden
Plants reach from 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) in height.
They carry small flowers of red, pink, yellow or white that are reminiscent of tiny lilies.
Some of the common names for Lycoris include Hardy Amaryllis, Spider Lily and magic Lily.
Lycoris radiata, Red Spider Lily flower photographs by TANAKA Juuyoh.
Lycoris Plant Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Cluster Amaryllis, Hurricane Lily, Magic Lily, Spider Lily, Stone Garlic.
Life Cycle: Hardy bulb.
Height: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm).
Native: Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 7 to 10.
Flower Details: White, red, pink, orange, yellow. Lily-like. Umbel; four to eight flowers.
Foliage: Slender. Long.
Bulbs: 3 to 8 inches (8 to 20 cm) depending upon species. End of summer.
Seeds: Cover. Late summer or autumn; use fresh seed. Seeds should first be sown into flats. Next sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass/plastic covering. Keep an eye on the flats to ensure that the soil remains moist and to check if seedlings have emerged. Transplant the seedlings to their final location at the start of autumn.
Sow Inside: No.
How to Grow Hardy Amaryllis, Spider Lily - Lycoris
Hardy Amaryllis and other Lycoris members can be grown from bulbs or seeds. The bulbs should be burried at a depth of 10 cm (4 inches; small Lycoris species) or 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches; larger varieties) at the start of august.
Seeds should be sown fresh into flats, at the end of summer or beginning of autumn in a shady location; once sown lightly cover Lycoris seeds with soil then cover the flats with glass. Lycoris can grow in either partially shaded or sunny parts of the garden that has good drainage.
They like to grow in a soil that is rich, moist and as a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is best to allow the seedlings to grow for a year until they have formed bulbs, then transplant them about 10 cm apart (4 inches; small) to 40 cm apart (16 inches; large Lycoris species).
Caring for Amaryllis and other Lycoris Plants in the Garden
If you require more Lycoris plants in your garden then it is best to propagate from the bulblets that they produce.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Lycoris plants. You may also enjoy my gardening guides on how to grow Bulbinella, Nemesia plant, and Hacquetia plants.
If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. Available for Kindle (MOBI), iPad (ePub) and as a PDF.
Genus Index L
