The leaves are grayish-green and strap-like and will remain evergreen over the winter and die back in late spring. The red spider lily is native to China, Japan, Korea, and Nepal. It is usually found in shady, moist areas along slopes and rocky areas near stream banks.
The spider lily (Hymenocallis) is native to South America. However, there is another species commonly referred to as spider lily (Crinum pedunculatum) that is native to Australia.
The red spider lily (lycoris radiata) is believed to have originated in China and Korea. Centuries ago it was transplanted to Japan and has become culturally important in that country.
Lycoris radiata, known as the red spider lily, red magic lily, corpse flower, or equinox flower, is a plant in the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. Originally from China, Korea, and Nepal, it was introduced into Japan and from there to the United States and elsewhere.
'Red Spider Lily': The 'Red Spider Lily' (Lycoris Radiata) blooms with vibrant coral red flowers following its summer dormancy. They are native to Southeastern China and South Japan. They grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 6–10.
Toxicity. Red spider lilies are poisonous to humans and animals, and therefore are best for homes that do not have children or pets.
Abstract. Hymenocallis coronaria, also known as the rocky shoals spider lily , is a rare species that is restricted to Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
To ensure the graves were left alone, people planted the poisonous red spider lilies over buried bodies to deter animals. Graves and death were soon associated with the red spider lily, earning it the name of 'death flower' and the even darker, 'corpse flower'.
Spider lilies are considered mildly poisonous, so don't eat them. In Japan, where it is called “Higanbana”, the plant is used to protect the rice paddies since it is toxic to rats and other wild animals. You may find the rice patties lined with these plants creating a striking view when in bloom.
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!
Red spider lily / Higanbana
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.
The Japanese cherry blossom is the national flower of Japan and is by far the most popular. These flowers can be enjoyed and admired during spring, and there's even a cherry blossom festival during this time that takes place in cherry blossom gardens all over Japan.
Spider lilies can grow wild, in landscaped beds, in rock gardens, near ponds and even in containers with direct to partial sun.
Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium milleflorum) is an Australian native groundcover from the Ballarat area. Its strappy silver-green leaves grow in a clump which could be mistaken for a grass, however the leaves are softer, slightly fleshy and broader than most grasses.
It is native to tropical and Southern Africa, but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including Western Australia and the Bangladesh.
The spider lily is an enduring perennial; they can only be divided every seven years or so. Though not an invasive plant, it's a vigorous and fast spreader, so it's wise to interplant them with perennials and annuals in spots where you want vibrant splashes of color.
Its roots are used to treat swellings, ulcers, and the nervous afflictions of children. The bulb is used to counteract poisons and can be made into a plaster to treat burns and scalds. Additionally, Red spider flower contains alkaloids that are associated with anticancer, antibacterial, and antiretroviral properties.
Coral red spider-like umbel blooms give way to gray-green foliage. Unique, textured blooms are deer resistant and sweetly fragrant.
The striking, seemingly magical blooms in red, orange, yellow or white add color to the landscape in a late summer or early fall garden, when most other flowers have stopped blooming. The blooms last for about two weeks.
If your pet consumes any portion of a spider lily plant, you should contact your veterinarian right away for further instructions. Symptoms like muscle spasms and diarrhea can occur; a visit to the clinic is imperative with ingestion of the spider lily.
While certain colors of lilies mean different things in Japanese culture – orange lilies for revenge and hatred and white lilies for purity – red spider lilies have a particularly dark connotation. Sometimes referred to as the death flower, red spider lilies relate to final goodbyes.
The name of the flower can also refer to 'the other shore'; its bright colours said to guide souls into the afterlife. An aspect that presumably explains its use at funerals. And if that wasn't enough, another story is that red spider lilies bloom along the paths of departing lovers.
A red spider lily flower appears spider-like with its long, upward curved flowers. Red Spider Lilies quickly multiply developing into nice clumps that sprout stately flower stems during September and October.
Spider lilies prefer part sun/part shaded site and regular water, even when dormant. Lycoris plants are deer-resistant but butterflies love the flowers.
Spider Lily Overview
The strong fragrance of the flowers will attract bees, butterflies and sunbirds to the home garden.