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Orange-flowered surprise lily is a small spider lily from Korea and Japan whose apricot-to-orange flowers come up on bare stalks in late summer, long after its leaves have died back. It does not grow wild in the U.S. but is grown by bulb collectors and is hardy to about 6.

Appearance

Appearance
A bulb that sends up narrow leaves in early spring and loses them by summer. The flower stalk comes up later from bare ground; Japanese references give its height as about 12–20 in (30–50 cm), while the Korean variety is reported at about 10 in (26 cm).
Flowers
Several apricot to orange flowers with 6 petals at the top of each stalk. It is one of the smaller and earliest-blooming Lycoris.
Flowering time
August

Look-alikes

Surprise lilyLycoris squamigera

Surprise lily has fragrant pink flowers; orange-flowered surprise lily is apricot to orange.

Why they get mixed upBoth bloom from bare ground in summer after their spring leaves die back.

Red spider lilyLycoris radiata

Red spider lily is bright red with narrow, strongly curled-back petals, blooms from late August into September, and grows its leaves in fall.

Why they get mixed upBoth are spider lilies with flowers on leafless stalks.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Bright forest floors
  • Woodland edges
Range
Native to Korea and central and southern Japan; not native to North America.

Cautions

Cautions
Contains lycorine and related toxins; do not eat any part.

Name and classification

About the name
Three varieties are recognized: var. sanguinea (Japan), var. kiushiana (Japan; larger flowers with long protruding stamens), and var. koreana (Korea and Kyushu).

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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Orange-flowered Surprise Lily (Lycoris sanguinea) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo