We’re just wrappping up the midseason of the Lycoris (Surprise Lily) flowering season, that runs from August 11-August 25. This typically wraps up the last of the spring-foliage species and hybrids, and takes us through the middle part of the fall-leaved species and hybrids.
Lycoris aurea is one of the most tender of the Lycoris species. In our climate, this requires light shade, since the foliage will fry during the winter when grown in sun.
Lycoris chinensis looks exactly like Lycoris aurea, except that the foliage doesn’t emerge until late February/early March. While Lycoris aurea is only winter hardy from Zone 7b and south, it’s doppleganger is winter hardy into a cold Zone 5.
Lycoris sprengeri ‘Floral Bouquet’ is one of our more recent selections with a truly superb floral show.
Lycoris sprengeri ‘Wedding Gown’ is our own seedling from a typical colored flower form. This is our first white flowered form of the species.
The next two are selections of Lycoris x caldwellii are a cross of two spring-leaved species, Lycoris longituba and Lycoris chinensis. The first has more genes from Lycoris longituba, and the second has more genes from Lycoris chinensis.
Lycoris x jinzheniae is a cross of two spring-leaved species, Lycoris sprengeri and Lycoris chinensis.
Lycoris x roseaurea is one of our new hybrids from a cross of Lycoris x rosea ‘August Red’ and Lycoris aurea ‘Landing Pad’. This is the first of our handmade crosses to ever flower, this after five years. It’s far nicer than anything we could have imagined.
Lycoris x rosea is a cross between the fall-leaved Lycoris radiata var. pumila and the spring-leaved Lycoris sprengeri. The next seven are all selections from crosses between those species. Those with more pink show more genes from Lycoris sprengeri and those with more red show more genes from Lycoris radiata.
Lycoris x rosensis is a cross between the spring-leafed Lycoris chinensis and the fall-foliaged Lycoris x rosea.
Lycoris x straminea is a cross between the spring flowered Lycoris chinensis and the fall-foliaged Lycoris radiata. The last four images are different selections from that cross.
Lovely!
Hi there,
I’ve been dying to find a very bright yellow Lycoris (more gold than buttery yellow) to plant at the top of my stairs in the back yard.
I have part sun/shady conditions once the trees leaf out. But during winter, it would get full sun.
Would the Lycoris chinensis that you pictured here in this blog work for me? It looks exactly like what I’m looking for color wise. I looked on the PD website, but don’t see it there. Is it available?
Thanks so much for all the wonderful info you provide.
Mary Bewan
Lycoris chinensis is rarely available, since it is such a slow offsetter. Slightly easier to find is Lycoris x caldwellii, a cross of Lycoris chinensis x longituba.