Lycoris sprengeri

Lycoris sprengeri is a spectacular surprise lily with blue and pink flowers. The buds are deep pink and electric blue opening to light pink flowers with sky blue to royal blue tips. The blue colouring is boldest when flowers bloom in cool temperatures. 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 fall, late winter and/or spring. Mulch for winter in colder zones.

Once the darling of a few collectors, Lycoris Sprengeri is now attainable because of the recent expansion of trade with China. It is a spring foliage type and therefore should be cold-hardy at least to zone 6. Its native habitat is the moist, wooded slopes of Eastern China. The pink flowers are overlayed with shocking blue, and the exact color combination changes as the flowers age. Blooms in later summer. Although tollerant of dry periods, it does best with regular moisture. As with all Lycoris, it is recommend that you plant shallowly, with the top of the bulb close to the surface. The leaves will remain dormant until spring, but planting earlier will give a chance for roots to establish themselves. We sell large blooming size bulbs, aproximately 10 cm around but subject to some variation depending on what we dig up. 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 blooming in late summer. These bulbs are the new harvest from Japan and will begin shipping in August, 2011.