Photo of Lycoris x squamigera flower by Leafari

Photo by Leafari

Used with permission, all rights reserved

Show all photos

Lycoris x squamigera

Also Known As

  • Lycoris squamigera
  • Nekkid Ladies
  • Pink Spider Lily

Plant type

perennial, bulb / corm / tuber

size

  • H: 24"
  • W: 12"

planting zones

  • 4a-9b

More Options

Lycoris x squamigera plant details

Lycoris x squamigera is a broadleaf deciduous perennial bulb / corm / tuber with green foliage. In fall pink flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Grows well with mostly sun - bright shade and regular water. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Lycoris x squamigera

Plant type: perennial bulb / corm / tuber
Plant family: amaryllidaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 12 IN wide, 24 IN tall
Flowers: pink blooms in fall
Uses: border plant, cottage garden, cutting garden, rock garden, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Lycoris x squamigera

USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
Sun exposure: mostly sun - bright shade
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: deer, verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Developing over time into bulb clusters with oodles of tall stalks topped with curly pink blooms, these lycoris are remarkably tough. Plant where they'll get sun and good drainage. They'll take care of the rest . . . for years to come. This lycoris is an heirloom, first grown in the late 1880s. Note to cold region gardeners: pink squamigera is the most winter hardy of any lycoris available today.

By: Leafari

In late summer, bare stalks rocket up out of nowhere, opening into shimmering, lavender-pink, amaryllis-like flowers. Also known as naked ladies and resurrection lily, this Asian wildflower is "nearly ideal for the middle and upper South," Scott Ogden writes inGarden Bulbs for the South. It blooms here in chilly zone-6 Ann Arbor, too, if you can give it a sunny site with sandy soil that stays relatively dry in summer and patience as it re-establishes itself. 36", zones 6a-7b(8bWC)
Lycoris Squamigera is a spring foliage type and has been proven hardy to zone 5, maybe colder with mulch. 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 of Lycoris Sprengeri (the Tie Die Lycoris) and the robust growing Lycoris Longituba (white trumpet shaped flowers). The large pink flowers with faint blue tips make a wonderful cut flower. 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. 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.

Gardening facts about Lycoris x squamigera plant

How to Grow Lycoris x squamigera

  • Sun Exposure

    • mostly sun - bright shade
  • Water Needs

    • regular
  • Soil Needs

    • average
    • well-drained
  • Special Situation

    • verticillium wilt resistant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • pink
  • Wildlife

    • deer resistant
  • Flower Season

    • fall
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous
  • Texture

    • grassy
Mailing List
Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

© 2010—2024 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved