Spider lilies thrive in mild climates found in USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9, and they go dormant in the winter. These deer-resistant flowers also attract helpful pollinators like hummingbirds when you plant them in your garden. Their showy blooms also make for excellent cut flowers for bouquets.
Grevillea -- Spider Flower
They attract a wide range of native bees, as well as nectar-feeding birds. They range in size from tall shrubs to prostrate varieties to suit many different garden situations.
Garden Uses
Use them to naturalize areas between a lawn and a woodland. Spider lilies add texture as well as color, so pair them with foliage plants. Plant them among spring-flowering bulbs so the bed has color in the fall. If you live outside of spider lilies' hardiness range, grow them in containers.
Because red spider lilies are associated with death, it is believed that one should never give a bouquet of these flowers. Some legends have it that if you see someone whom you may never meet again, these flowers will bloom along the paths you take.
Red spider lily flowers symbolize death, final goodbyes, abandonment, and bad luck.
Throughout Asia, the red spider lily is known as the “flower of farewell.” It is often given to people who are about to embark on a long journey, as it symbolizes death and the cycle of rebirth. In other words, a final goodbye translates to the death of someone or something.
Red spider lilies are bright summer flowers native throughout Asia. They are associated with final goodbyes, and legend has it that these flowers grow wherever people part ways for good. In old Buddhist writings, the red spider lily is said to guide the dead through samsara, the cycle of rebirth.
However, the red Spider lily is very toxic, and the whole plant contains lycoline. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and even death. After planting, please take precautions to prevent children and pets from touching. If discomfort occurs after contact or accidental eating, consult a doctor promptly.
Don't touch: Red spider lily bulbs are poisonous if eaten, and touching the stems or petals can cause a rash. Don't let it put you off bringing kids, though—it's a great chance to teach children not to touch.
Spiderlilies are often planted on the grave as a floral tribute to the dead. Because of this association with the dead the spiderlily is considered unlucky and one would never think of giving a bouquet of these flowers as a gift.
Swamp lily (Crinum pedunculatum), 1790s
There are five species of Swamp lily native to Australia. Swamp lilies are also known as River, Mangrove or Spider lilies.
Trivia. The Blue Spider Lily is a flower that does not exist in reality. However, the Red Spider Lily is an important flower in Japanese folkore, believing to guide the dead to their next reincarnation.
Spider Lily
This perennial bulb grows a stalk-like stem with buds that provide a gentle fragrance — nothing overpowering. Its wispy, curled petals add an eye-catching texture and exotic appeal to a landscape. The fact that it's one of the most fragrant flowers is an added bonus!
In a planting site to their liking, deer-resistant red spider lilies will naturalize and spread. To keep them from becoming overcrowded, which could lead to diminished bloom production, divide them every few years. This is best done in the early summer when the plants are dormant.
Spider lilies do not compete well with nearby plants, so companion plants should be slow to spread and widely spaced. Try pairing lycoris with dwarf hosta, agave, ferns, echeveria or graptopetalum.
Spider lily refers to several plants in the Amaryllidaceae family with large dramatic flowers. Each of these plants contains a combination of natural alkaloids which can be toxic. Protect yourself and your pet.
The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase. Eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days.
The many nicknames of this plant, surprise lily, magic lily, resurrection lily or naked lily refer to the fact that the flowers appear atop sturdy, leafless stems, long after the leaves have withered and disappeared. Lycoris include over a dozen species, most are native to China or Japan.
Abstract. Hymenocallis coronaria, also known as the rocky shoals spider lily , is a rare species that is restricted to Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Red spider lilies are perennials that grow from bulbs. They tend to appear in clumps and can grow to heights of two to three feet. The fragrant flowers appear in mid to late summer and are delicate and bright red. They can be planted in a patch in the garden, and they can also thrive as container plants.
The spider lily (Lycoris radiata) is known for its dainty, elegant white blooms that are extremely fragrant, especially after dusk. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 10, spider lilies are easy to grow and care for.
Chrysanthemum. White and yellow chrysanthemums are widely used to say goodbye, particularly in Asia.
- Blue Spider Lily (Lycoris sprengeri) represents truth and calm energy. It is also associated with stability in life, freedom of doing something, and of inspiration.