Naked Lady flowers (Lycoris radiata) have also been called Schoolhouse lilies, red spider lilies, and surprise lilies. Their nickname stems from the fact that they bloom with no foliage, revealing naked (leafless) stems in the fall.
Plant your bulbs now while they are dormant in late summer to early fall. This will give them 2-3 years to develop strong roots before presenting you with flowers.
They’re easy to grow
Naked lady plants are easy to grow in the garden or in containers. Incorporate them in rock gardens, perennial borders, or flower beds where they can stand out amongst other colorful blooms. For optimal results, plant them in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Space the bulbs, which are roughly the size of a tangerine, close together so that their pointed tips are exposed above the compost surface.
To get the most out of your naked ladies, fertilize in spring to provide a nutrient boost prior to their flowering season. They also need to be pruned after the flowers fade in late summer.
Naked lady plants are tolerant of drought, but they do best when watered evenly. Overwatering can lead to bulb rot, so it is important to monitor the amount of water applied. Naked ladies should be repotted after they double in size, or yearly, whichever comes first. This is an ideal time to add a light layer of organic mulch, such as bone meal or compost, for an added nutrient boost.
They’re deer-resistant
Naked ladies are not prone to the same browsing problems that plague many other summer-flowering bulbs. This is probably because deer don’t find them very appetizing, even though they contain a poison that will cause pain, nausea and vomiting if eaten.
Naked lady plants erupt with pink, trumpet-shaped blossoms on long, bare stems. Their curious growth cycle is one of the reasons why they are so intriguing. They are a classic sight in late August in gardens and along roads up and down California, with their long, rubbery-looking stalks that seem to be sprouting out of nowhere.
Although they are typically planted in the fall, if you live in a warmer zone, naked lady plants can also be transplanted anytime from late spring to early summer. They are quite adaptable and will thrive in any well-draining soil, even the heavy clay that so many landscapes contend with. Just make sure to plant them with the pointed tip up.
They’re fragrant
The luminous pink flowers of naked lady plants (Amaryllis belladonna) are a classic sight in California yards and along roads during August. They get their fanciful name because they rise sans leaves after the lush mound of spring foliage fades away.
The long stems of this flowering plant produce sweet-smelling blooms that are particularly fragrant at night. They make excellent cut flowers that last for a week in bouquets. The flowers attract beneficial insects and hummingbirds to the garden.
These hardy flowers are ideal for any sunny spot in zones 7 to 10. They grow well interplanted with other bulbs that bloom at different times to stagger the seasons (like lilies) and work nicely in containers too. Like most Amaryllis plants, naked ladies take a little patience to establish themselves in the garden or yard. It may take them a year or two to flower after they’ve been planted, but the wait is worth it.
They’re beautiful
Naked ladies, or Amaryllis Naked lady belladonna if you prefer the botanical name, are one of the classic sights of late summer in coastal California. They emerge from the dry grass of hillsides and along rural roads, their bare stems reaching 18 inches or more into the air with no foliage anywhere. Their showy pink trumpet flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, as well as the pollinators they need to thrive.
Naked Lady plants do best with full sun, but they can grow almost anywhere in well-draining soil that’s somewhat sheltered from the elements. They’re often planted near other flowering bulbs that bloom at different times of the year to stagger their blooming seasons.
When they bloom, make sure to remove the flower stalks as soon as they fade. If you don’t, the plant will go to seed and won’t bloom next season. It’s also possible to propagate the plants by dividing the bulbs. But the best time to do so is in late summer or early fall, when they’re dormant and their leaves have shriveled.
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