Lycoris squamigera aka Surprise Lily

Lycoris squamigera is a perennial bulb in the amaryllis family. Gardeners call it magic lily, surprise lily, or resurrection lily. Its leaves and flowers appear at separate times. Kew places its native range from southeast China to Korea. NC State also includes Japan in its native range. It grows in moist, disturbed ground near streams and valleys. It has a long history in United States gardens. Old clumps can help mark the sites of former farms.

Plants reach 1.5–2 feet [0.46–0.61 metres] tall and wide. The bulbs can survive for many years once they settle. Fleshy, strap-shaped leaves grow in clumps at the plant's base. Their colour is green with a silver-grey cast. Leaves reach about 1 foot [0.30 metres] long. They emerge in late winter or early spring. By late spring or summer, the foliage dies back. Thick, bare green stems then rise in late summer. This gap between leaves and flowers explains several common names.

The fragrant flowers form clusters at the tops of stems. Sources report roughly four to eight blooms per stem. Each flower has a funnel or trumpet shape. Pink petals carry lilac tones or purple veins. Their six petals curve back and have slightly wavy edges. The flowers also nod a little. NC State gives August to September as the bloom period. Chicago records a broader season from July through October. The plant has three sets of chromosomes and is sterile. It produces no viable seeds and spreads through extra bulbs.

Grow it in full sun or a partly shaded spot. It prefers fertile soil with organic matter and good drainage. It can adapt to several soil types. Give moderate water while it grows, but less while dormant. Chicago lists it for USDA zones 5–9. Winter mulch helps protect the bulbs from cold. Established plants need little care and dislike disturbance. Division provides new plants, though flowering may pause the next year. Borders, pots, meadows, and open woodland gardens suit it. Nearby groundcovers can soften the look of its bare stems. The flowers also work well for cutting.

Butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers, while deer and rabbits resist eating it. Serious pest and disease trouble is uncommon. Aphids, lily leaf beetles, and narcissus bulb flies may occur. The plant contains toxins, including lycorine. Eating it can cause stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Its leaves can also irritate mouth and throat tissues. PFAF records cooked bulbs as a starch source. That source warns that toxins require leaching before food use. This food record does not mean untreated bulbs are safe.