Lycoris incarnata

Lycoris incarnata is a rare amaryllis relative that has deep pink and white striped buds opening to showy, amaryllis-like, pretty in pink flowers. It is thought to be a naturally occurring hybrid between L. sprengeri and L. longituba. Lycoris resent disturbance and can take a little time to start blooming again after planting. They are dormant in summer when they appreciate a hot, dry rest, bloom in late summer and fall, and have strap-like foliage in late winter and spring. Mulch for winter in colder zones. Some suggest they could be hardier than zone 5 with protection. Photo: Wikipedia.

Lycoris Incarnata is a spring foliage type and should be hardy to zone 5, maybe colder with mulch. It also grows well in warm climates. Its natural habitat is the moist, wooded slopes of China. Blooms mid summer, earlier than the red Lycoris Radiata. It is believed to be a natural hybrid involving Lycoris Sprengeri (the Tie Die Lycoris) and the robust growing Lycoris Longituba (white trumpet shaped flowers). The large flowers are white with pink stripes, and make a wonderful cut flower. It enjoys summer heat during dormancy. It has naturalized throughout the Midwest and Upper South, where it is affectionately called the "Naked Lady" lily. For this reason it is often confused with Amaryllis Belladonna, which is the "Naked Lady" of the warmer and dryer Western US. If your winters are cold or your summers are wet, you want Lycoris Squamigera, not Amaryllis Belladonna. Although tollerant of lengthy dry periods, it does best with regular moisture, even during summer dormancy. As with all Lycoris, I recommend that you plant shallowly, with the top of the bulb close to the surface. The top will remain dormant until spring, but planting earlier will give a chance for roots to establish themselves. These full size bulbs are similar in size to a daffodil (aproximately 12 cm around). Although we take care to send the freshest bulbs possible, it is common for Lycoris to sulk for a year or so after transplanting before gracing us with their summer blooms. This gives all the more reason to get them planted this year, rather than put it off for another year.