Naked Ladies

[coolford]

This plant is common in the southern Ozarks and gets it name from the fact that it blooms without any foliage. Its scientific name is Lycoris squamigera and in the spring it appears with green strap-like leaves and no flowers.  About early July all the leaves are dead and the ground looks bare.  However in early August, almost overnight the flowers appear on tall stems such as is shown in the second picture.

[oldgoaly]

Daylillies or surprise lillies is what we know them as. Got them all over here I spread the bulbs out a few years ago and they all took off!

[coolford]

Did you know the bulb companies sell them for around $10.00 a bulb?

[oldgoaly]

holy smokes! I've got 100's of them!

[Northwoods]

These are not day lilies.  Whole diff thing.
Pink.
Only pink.
And they just popped up a couple of days ago in NE Kansas.  Always a "surprise."

[oldgoaly]

This is the original patch, they were so grown together I took 3/4ths of them and planted along 3 out buildings. They have filled back in about time to move some out.

[Bill Houghton]

Our dining room vase is currently occupied by some.  I hadn't realized the origin of the name; makes sense now (although I never object to references to naked ladies...lets my mind wander...).

[Yadda]

I had some red ones at time. 

[lptools]

I love all of them!! Would those survive here in Central New York State??

[Yadda]

Maybe,  hardiness zone is 5-10.  Central N.Y. can be in zone 4. If you have a sheltered area you might steal a zone with the microclimate.  If you have issues with ground heaving these might not be a good option.

[lptools]

Hello, yadda. Thanks, I will check at the plant store tomorrow!!

[coolford]

In the Lycoris genus there are other colors that include red and yellow, but the flower is not the same.  The naked lady flower is more like an amaryllis or easter lily flower and the other Lycoris species are more spider-like.  However, they all flower without foliage.  Some of the other species are also less cold tolerant.

[oldgoaly]

Glad I took pics yesterday, they are flat, laying on the ground.2" of rain overnight, more comming. Wish we could send some where they need it!

[Papaw]

I knew I had some photos of them, but mine are Rhododendrons and Amaryllis .

Rhododendrons by Noel Hankamer, on Flickr

Amaryllis Blooms by Noel Hankamer, on Flickr

[papadan]

We've got some Day Lillies and Naked ladies, all just growing around this area.