Red spider lily

Red spider lily (Lycoris radiata)

Red spider lily’s brilliant red flowers remind me of an azalea’s ball truss. Blooms fade quickly in hot weather, but a higher degree of shade helps them last a while longer. Depending on where it grows in the Southeast, red spider lily blooms from early September to mid-October. After the bloom stalks fade away, foot-long, strap-shaped leaves emerge and last through winter. Red spider lily is an heirloom bulb that is easily passed from hand to hand. Replant offsets as the leaves die in spring. -Parker Andes, Fine Gardening #147 (October 2012), page 71

Noteworthy Characteristics: 

Brilliant red flowers.

Propagation: 

Replant offsets in spring, as the leaves die.

Problems: 

The blooms fade quickly in high heat.

Overview

Height 1 ft. to 3 ft. Spread Less than 6 in. Growth Habit Spreads Growth Pace Moderate Grower Light Part Shade Only Moisture Medium Moisture Maintenance Low Characteristics Showy Flowers Bloom Time Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall Flower Color Red Foliage Color Green Uses Beds and Borders, Shade Seasonal Interest Fall Interest Type Perennials