Lycoris Species, Magic Lily, Naked Lady, Resurrection Lily, Surprise Lily
Lycoris squamigera
Family: | Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Lycoris (LY-kor-iss) (Info) |
Species: | squamigera (skwam-EE-ger-uh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Amaryllis hallii |
Synonym: | Hippeastrum squamigerum |

Category:
Bulbs
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Smooth
Foliage Color:
Height:
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing:
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Pink
Magenta (pink-purple)
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are good for cutting
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Decatur, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
Madison, Alabama
Midland City, Alabama
Wetumpka, Alabama
Bullhead City, Arizona
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Jasper, Arkansas
Searcy, Arkansas
August, California
Ben Lomond, California
Canoga Park, California
Carmichael, California
El Macero, California
El Portal, California
Hercules, California
Livermore, California
Los Angeles, California
Manhattan Beach, California
Oroville East, California
Perris, California
San Diego, California
San Jose, California
Santa Paula, California
Santa Rosa, California
South Oroville, California
West Sacramento, California
Whittier, California
Woodland, California
Berthoud, Colorado
Clifton, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
Sterling, Colorado
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
Wilmington, Delaware(2 reports)
Fountain, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Niceville, Florida
Cleveland, Georgia
Screven, Georgia
Kula, Hawaii
Antioch, Illinois
Collinsville, Illinois
Des Plaines, Illinois
Divernon, Illinois
Frankfort, Illinois
Grayslake, Illinois
Mokena, Illinois
Monticello, Illinois
Mount Olive, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Tinley Park, Illinois
Tuscola, Illinois
Washington, Illinois
Williamsville, Illinois
Winnetka, Illinois
Bloomington, Indiana
Chesterton, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Gosport, Indiana
Greensburg, Indiana
Macy, Indiana
Peru, Indiana
Spencer, Indiana
Brooklyn, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa(2 reports)
Osceola, Iowa
Abilene, Kansas
Derby, Kansas
Lane, Kansas
Lindsborg, Kansas
Rolla, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Tonganoxie, Kansas
Barbourville, Kentucky
Eubank, Kentucky
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky(2 reports)
Mount Sterling, Kentucky
Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Taylorsville, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Arnold, Maryland
Hagerstown, Maryland
Pikesville, Maryland
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Wayland, Massachusetts
Blanchard, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Harbor Beach, Michigan
Scottville, Michigan
Three Rivers, Michigan
Alden, Minnesota
Chisago City, Minnesota
Lewisville, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Preston, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota(2 reports)
Byhalia, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Marietta, Mississippi
Archie, Missouri
Ballwin, Missouri
Brunswick, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Elsberry, Missouri
Galena, Missouri
Grandview, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Maryland Heights, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Louis, Missouri
Stoutland, Missouri
Laurel, Montana
Burchard, Nebraska
Friend, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Springfield, Nebraska
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Elmira, New York
Medina, New York
Concord, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Amesville, Ohio
Barberton, Ohio
Bucyrus, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio(2 reports)
Columbus, Ohio(2 reports)
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Defiance, Ohio
Fairborn, Ohio
Fort Jennings, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Ironton, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Zanesville, Ohio
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Hugo, Oklahoma
Hulbert, Oklahoma
Indianola, Oklahoma
Salina, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Yukon, Oklahoma(2 reports)
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Butler, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Conway, South Carolina
Wentworth, South Dakota
Brighton, Tennessee
Clarksville, Tennessee
Cordova, Tennessee
Hollow Rock, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Middleton, Tennessee
Millington, Tennessee
Moscow, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Colleyville, Texas
Coppell, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Fate, Texas
Kilgore, Texas
Mcallen, Texas
Nevada, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Arlington, Virginia
Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Bristol, Virginia
Jonesville, Virginia
Lovettsville, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Reston, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Quilcene, Washington
Great Cacapon, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Vienna, West Virginia
Altoona, Wisconsin
Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Elroy, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sheridan, Wyoming
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Positive | On Aug 1, 2019, AnJah from Alden, MN wrote: I bought a house in southern MN 17 years ago. The first year I discovered the Surprise lilies in the flower bed, and some came up in the vegetable garden, even after we had tilled it! I can't seem to stop them from flowering and multiplying. Once I dug some up to thin them out and threw the bulbs on the compost heap. They flowered even there, in a heap. It survives the -30 F winters, wet springs and hot summers... and thrives. They also survive being covered in snow as they are typically the first plants to come up, even before the tulips and daffodils. Other gardeners around here consider them a weed because they grow so rapidly and crowd out other flowers, especially in spring when their foliage is thickest. But I love them and eagerly await the flowers in late summer. I will never fo... read more |
Neutral | On May 20, 2019, DWand4Kids from Norman, OK wrote: I'm in zone 7. Last year, I received about 40 Naked Ladies from a lady who said she thins hers out every few years because they multiply so profusely. She dug them in early spring. The bulbs were ping pong ball to golf ball size with full foliage 18-24 inches high. I planted them right away. The foliage died off pretty quickly. When no flower stalks emerged in the summer, I thought all the plants had died, or the bulbs had been eaten by squirrels. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2019, Glorianne from Screven, GA wrote: Finally I am glad to discover "naked ladies" have other names ! My dear mom-in-law loved them and would direct us to see them in her area of mid Wisconsin. Imagine my surprise when we discovered them growing in south Georgia a few miles from our retirement house. They are growing in incredible profusion this season.. early Spring is the best here. Their favorite spots are in low ditches by highways. Those areas hold water but drain nicely. The sunshine warms them between the raised highway bed and the forest growing a few yards away. This year, 2019, there are thousands of blooms. We look for them there each year but this is the most in 14 years. They have naturalized well. |
Positive | On Aug 22, 2017, slv1 from Lakeville, MN wrote: I live in Lakeville Minnesota (zone 4) and received this bulb over 8 years ago in a package of Peruvian Daffodils. I didn't get a peruvian daffodil but I did get a beautiful Naked lady. It has bloomed each year and the clump keeps expanding. I have never done much for protection but I love the amaryllis type blooms. I recently shared bulbs with a neighbor and hope they enjoy the success I have had with them. |
Positive | On Apr 1, 2017, BridgeJet23 from Old Saybrook, CT wrote: So my naked ladies greens are coming up in the various gardens. These flowers look so much better in a mass, and I unfortunately planted them separately here and there. I read that one has to transplant them in the autumn..but heck, I can't find them then because there's nothing left of the plant by then. Will harm come to these if I carefully dig them up now (with fork) to put them together? |
Positive | On Sep 12, 2016, hlosh from Brooklyn, IA wrote: I was given a surprise lily by a friend and was told to plant it in shade or partial shade. I now have many plants in this location and several elsewhere. I live in Iowa with cold winters and I wait patiently for these to bloom. I have cut the blooms and put in water, love the smell. From what I see that everyone else is writing, this is a very versatile plant! |
Positive | On Aug 16, 2016, Reziac from Laurel, MT wrote: Billings, Montana area, zone 4... it surprised me, all right. House sat empty and neglected for 3 years before we got it, so it dates back to before that. Last March it grew a big clump of leaves that died back by June, and that was the last I saw of it. This year it did the leaves again, died back, and suddenly now in mid-August it's sent up 7 big flower stems and is blooming like crazy. |
Positive | On Jun 7, 2016, delphinium01 from Cuyahoga Falls, OH wrote: I just came across this article and am happy I finally know what this beautiful flower is! |
Positive | On May 17, 2015, wilmabooper from Los Angeles, CA wrote: Good morning. |
Positive | On Aug 31, 2014, DavidLMo from St Joseph, MO wrote: If you dig up an old stand, the bulbs will be from 4 - 6 inches deep in Zone 5. Not on the surface and not partially exposed. The bulbs should be planted about that deep according to knowledgeable sources and mine growing them for 20 + years. |
Positive | On Aug 29, 2014, weedsfree from Magna, UT (Zone 7a) wrote: Received mine in June and I had 2 bloom in August. One even has seed pods on it. With all the comments requesting patience for Lycoris owners, I can't wait to see what happens next year! I did plant mine so that the neck of the bulb was poking out of the ground and that seems to be a good depth. |
Neutral | On Jan 21, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: These do not like disturbance. If overcrowded, they're best divided in June when the foliage dies down, and replanted immediately without allowing the bulbs and roots to dry out. |
Positive | On Aug 3, 2013, keith20mm from Jasper, AR wrote: I planted these March 2013 and pretty much forgot about them. |
Positive | On Jul 30, 2013, kristinroca from West Sacramento, CA wrote: The funny thing was that I bought bulbs from a store and the package must have been mislabeled. I planted what I thought were "other" bulbs. Nothing happened so I thought They must have rotted and were ruined. The next year I got these green leaves that shot up -but I thought they were from the plant next to it which was Lily of the Nile. Then all the leaves turned brown and withered away-I thought my landscaper used round up thinking they were weeds! I actually fired him because it was the second time in 2 years that happened but it did not sprout last year! Once I cleared all the dead leaves away the 2nd time -about a month later I saw all the sprouts come up. They grew quickly! They smell great! I hope the multiply! From the time I planted bulbs to actual flowers was about 2-1/2 years! ... read more |
Positive | On Jul 22, 2013, vossner from East Texas, Surprise lily was most definitely a surprise for me. It took 8 years to bloom! I didn't give up on them b/c from the very first season, I would get healthy foliage but no blooms. I made it a point to get bulbs from different sources in case bulb quality or maturity was an issue. I don't think so. Just didn't feel at home in my gardens until now. Go figure. |
Positive | On Mar 10, 2013, LMH1 from Roswell, NM wrote: Like so many others, I was unfamiliar with this plant but was pleasantly surprised when it came up "out of nowhere". We had only been in our new home for about a month when I saw the ground "break" in several areas of a flower bed. They grew so quickly, I felt as though if I sat long enough I could see them grow! Even my husband, who usually doesn't pay attention to this stuff is in amazement and pointed them out to any and all visitors! Beautiful flower, beautiful scent, beautiful experience! It is now early March in southeastern New Mexico and the leaves of this plant are about 14 to 16 inches tall. It will be interesting to watch the progress of this wonderful plant. |
Positive | On Apr 26, 2011, Erutuon from Minneapolis, MN wrote: Surprise lily grows in the courtyard at the University of Minnesota Biological Sciences Greenhouse. I haven't been around in late summer to see it bloom, but it's probably this species. This spring, it began to come up during a warm spell in the middle of February, then got frozen twice before spring finally came. Several clumps are next to the tropics room, which is set below ground level and keeps the soil particularly warm. |
Positive | On Apr 19, 2011, delbertyoung56m from Medina, NY wrote: A friend from a Church in Monticello, Illinois gave me over 100 bulbs to plant in Medina, NY. I gave some to my siblings and the rest were planted all over in my Hosta bed, and I believe that everyone one of them survived the Winter - over 4 feet of snow on top on them at times. Some bloomed the first year, most did not. But this year - 2011 should be a banner year for them. The scent was fantastic on the ones that did bloom - nothing like it, better than lilacs. |
Positive | On Aug 8, 2010, boru from Altoona, WI wrote: When I moved to Wisconsin several years ago, I was saddened when I learned that "Naked Ladies" were not supposed to be hardy in zone 4a. Ha! I have always pushed the zones, and this is a plant I was going to work with until I could find the right micro climate in my garden. After years of growing them here in Eau Claire, I will have to say that I have had no problem with them anywhere I place them, so long as it is sunny. I will say that I used a bit of advice I had read in a garden magazine even before I moved to the "Frozen Tundra," if you want blooms, KEEP THEM DRY! Excellent drainage is the secret. When planting this far north and in this occasionally rain soaked environment, use twice as much perlite and sand as you think you might need. Also, it does not hurt to plant a bit deeper. U... read more |
Positive | On Jul 25, 2010, NonnieLight from Arkadelphia, AR wrote: This plant truly lives up to its name of "Surprise Lily"! Late in the summer it appears and year time I see it I am totally surprised. She's a beauty. |
Positive | On May 28, 2010, hoynicker from Pottstown, PA wrote: My daughter found a pile of them about 4 yrs. ago. washed up against a tree in the woods on the other side of our creek, the Manatawny in Pottstown, PA. We dug them all out, 50 total, and I planted them all over my property not knowing anything about them accept seeing them on other properties in the area. I found they like good soil and drainage and water. And boy do they smell fabulous. |
Positive | On Oct 13, 2009, hotsunshine from Kula, HI wrote: What.can.be.done.w/the.red.colored.seeds.that.are.produced.after.the. |
Positive | On Apr 27, 2009, plantaholic186 from Winnetka, IL wrote: Patience!! |
Positive | On Dec 20, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: As of currently, it hadn't bloom for me for four or five years - and to add a note, the other genus that also contain the name surprise lily or resurrection lily is not hardy at all in zone 4 so if you have any in zone 4, it will almost alway be Lycoris. |
Positive | On Aug 18, 2008, Janetgia62 from Des Moines, IA wrote: I received about 8 bulbs from a neighbor many years ago as we were getting ready to move, so I planted them at our new house in a corner of the perennial border on the patio. This is a very sunny spot that gets a lot of water and they have done beautifully, a great show every year (blooming now, mid-August) and lots of expansion. A couple years ago I moved some of them to a new location, also very sunny but not as much water, and they have done well there too. Now we are moving again to a place with mostly shade - I love these plants, and am anxious to find them a spot they will like at the new place! |
Positive | On Sep 9, 2007, MusetteLewry from Chesterton, IN wrote: My residence in the hamlet of Furnessville in the Indiana Dunes has hundreds of these Surprise lilies and thriving in several areas and from full sun to full shade. The shady areas do have the advantage of sunshine in the early spring before the tree foliage appears. The soil here is sandy as the house rests on the Glenwood dune, the ten-thousand-year-old former shore of Lake Michigan. I suspect that they have been here since the 40s. The house was built c: 1926 for the naturalist Edwin Way Teale and his wife Nellie Teale. I’ve enjoyed seeing their early sprouts signaling the end of winter since moving in here three years ago. |
Neutral | On Apr 6, 2007, amazar from Eau Claire, WI (Zone 4a) wrote: We have lived in this house since June of 2000. Every spring these leaves have come up on the southwest side of the house and died back. Every spring I have wondered what these were from. Finally, in August 2006 up it comes! We were out of town at the time, so I missed the rapid growth and only saw the tail end of the flowers. This spring, there are several clusters of leaves - looks like the bulb split, so I came here to find out when to divide it. Looks like I may be in the extreme north end of its zone. Judging from other people's comments, it may have been planted a little too close to the house - in the dry area under the eaves. |
Positive | On Aug 13, 2006, daniann from Elroy, WI wrote: I live in zone 4 in westcentral Wisconsin. We get REALLY cold winters, and I have had this plant for about 20 years. Some years we get lots of foliage in the spring and no flowers in August, but thankfully it keeps coming back. It's blooming nicely this year. |
Positive | On Apr 8, 2006, JenniferSM from Woodland, CA wrote: What a surprise when my husband and I moved into our 40-year-old "new" house and found these (at the time unknown to us) beautiful, slender and smooth "leaves" popping out of every corner of the yard, dying back later in spring, and "oh my"...... NAKED LADIES coming up in the same place just a few months later. It took us an entire year-and-a-half (spring, summer, and spring again) to figure out that they were the same plant! |
Positive | On Feb 3, 2006, ktdid from Bullhead City, AZ wrote: I grow them in large pots and keep them out of the direct sunlight. One stem in August had 8 flowers |
Positive | On Jan 16, 2006, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote: It's always nice to have a beautiful flower appear in a hot, dry period of summer. They come back faithfully year after year, and ask for nothing in return. The foliage can be kind of a pain earlier in the season though. My information says it is hardy in zones 4-11. Other names I have come across: British Soldiers, Hurricane Lily, Spider Lily. Blooms in August in my garden. |
Positive | On Jan 8, 2005, CBernard from Perris, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: These plants have beautiful foilage and flowers. They grow on top of the soil in Perris. We brought two bulbs from San Fernando Valley fifteen years ago. Now we have at least one hundred bulbs all over our yard. However, some years they don't bloom. Chuck |
Neutral | On Aug 20, 2004, marjisgarden from Lindsborg, KS wrote: The durn things grow when & where they want. But I wouldn't be without them. They grow all over here in and arround Lindsborg, Ks. Just south of Salina, central part of the state. |
Positive | On Aug 11, 2004, cvilleimp from Charlottesville, VA wrote: This plant is an old timer in the Shenandoah Valley and central piedmont area of Virginia. You can find it around old abandoned houses and outlining where an old picket fence used to keep animals out of the yard. It is always a pleasure to see them come up in the spring. It delights children because of the "magic" of it's arrival. |
Positive | On Aug 5, 2004, ShirleyToo from Sterling, CO wrote: A friend had these growing in her back yard, they were going to plow them under... so I took all I could dig... hundreds of bulbs! I planted some and gave some to parents. Theirs didn't do well in the sandy soil at the ranch, but mine... now that is a different story. They didn't come up for three years. This year, I had 13 come up in the front, and none on the side. The 13 were so surprising, not there one day, and four inches tall the second day! They are about 2 1/2 feet tall now, six blooms on each stock, and beautiful!! Then I spied one on the south side, just peeking out of the soil... now two days later, almost 8 inches tall!! Water is the key. I think the more they get, the better they like it... definitly a keeper! |
Positive | On Aug 2, 2004, OlIslander from Fairborn, OH wrote: I first ran into "naked lady lilies" in CA on a trip in Aug 2002 and fell in love with the color and way they grew. I've since received about 6 bulbs through a friend of the light pink/white version and two came up this year with flowers, 6 per stem. I was surprised to see them so early (last two weeks in July) since I was told they would not come up until late August. I also discovered they were blooming in southeast Indiana (I live in southwest Ohio), so last weekend, I gathered up my camera and drove through Madison, Clarksville, Jeffersonville and along Indiana 64 to Milltown. Many towns had blooming plants while others were just opening. The display in Milltown at Main and Spencer Rd was noteable. In another week, they will all be gone and no one would know they were there. |
Positive | On Jun 28, 2004, jhyshark from Scottville, MI (Zone 4b) wrote: I have to remember to fertilize in the spring when the foliage is showing in order to get them to bloom in my poor sandy soil, but it's worth it. |
Positive | On Mar 20, 2004, MMMeyer wrote: I moved into a house that already had these planted. I didn't know what they were until late summer. What a pleasant surprise when I saw the pink flowers! They also grow vigorously in the woods behind my house...deep shade! I just divided the clumps up. Some bulbs are 2 inches in diameter. Great bulb to place where you plant annuals because they are invisible after the leaves die back in late Spring. Then the flowers are on a leafless tall stalk when it blooms. |
Positive | On Sep 7, 2003, Tristram from Normal, IL wrote: Dug some clumps of bulbs from my mother-in-law's and stuck them in the ground at home. They've been doing well for 6 years, now. They get full sun. I've never fertilized or mulched them. They grow along an east-west fence, so get some shelter. I have divided them a couple times. One curiousity: each bulb only blooms every 2nd year. The year it blooms, it makes no foliage. The year it doesn't bloom it makes foliage. Descriptions I've read of this bulb seem to suggest that the same bulb produces both foliage and then, later, a flower stalk in the same year. Mine sure don't work that way. |
Positive | On Jul 12, 2003, Toxicodendron from Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: These bulbs should only be divided when absolutely necessary because they sulk and sometimes don't bloom the next year. Lift the bulbs when the foliage dies down in June, and replant immediately. If planted at about 7 or 8" deep, and 12" apart, they will not need divided again as soon as if they are planted shallowly. The blooms appear almost overnight (after a rainy spell) and there are no leaves on the plant at the time. Be careful if you have them in your lawn; some people have been known to mow down the emerging blooms. Later note: I divided a patch of these in June, and counted 8 flower stalks coming up in July! This has not been my previous experience. I think it is due to regular watering in the current location. |
Positive | On May 28, 2003, beckykay from Godfrey, IL (Zone 6a) wrote: I think mine were planted about 6 in. deep here in zone 6 in Illinois. I planted them behind my smaller bushes and some inback of my foundation plants so when the leaves die back you can't see them. Slow to produce new bulbs. |
Neutral | On Feb 9, 2003, Greenknee from Chantilly, VA (Zone 6b) wrote: I have seen these bulbs bloom where thrown out on top of the soil - in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. In California's coastal climate, very vigorous, almost invasive in places. |