A few years ago I got these bulbs from someone. It was either my mother or a neighbor's mother. I was told at the time that the bulb would send up foliage in the spring that would die back by summer; then in the fall, the bulb would send up stalks that would bear some pink lily-like flowers. I planted these about two or three years ago. Each year I did get the foliage just as they had said that I would, but there was never a stalk to be seen in the fall.
Well earlier this week as I was going to work, I see this:
I knew I was finally getting flowers. Oooo! What would they look like? I was giddy with anticipation!
This morning one of the buds finally opened up.
Interesting. Delicately beautiful. A little exotic - I like that.
But what
are they?
16 comments:
Crinum?
Not sure though.
Awfully pretty!
I think it's Surprise Lily. Also called Magic Lily, Resurrection Lily, Naked Lady....so many names.
I've never seen these before. Beautiful though!!!
Those are great! How tall are they? They look like some kind of lily.
Sierrabella, I looked at some pictures of that, and I don't think that is what it is. Right now it has no leaves whatsoever.
Zoey, that's it. Do you know anything about it?
Sandy, I think that when this multplies and fills in a bigger area it will be quite a show!
OldRoses, they are about 30-36 high. A little too high maybe for where I have them - in the front of the bed. But now I don't want to move them. I will wait until they get established and just move a few at a time to make sure I don't lose everything.
The only problem with them being Naked Ladies would be that everything that I read for that plant says that they are hardy at the most to zone 6 and I am 4-5!!
Those are great. Well worth the wait.
Sorry, Sylvana, I don't know a thing about them as I don't have any. Maybe because I live in zone 5??
I've heard often of gardeners who somehow managed to keep a plant going that was not meant for their zone. Maybe you have them in a little micro climate that's warmer?
CrazyGramma, I think so too!
Zoey, well, they look and act just like the naked ladies, so I'm pretty sure that is what they are. I read that there were some varieties that came from Japan. Perhaps these are an even colder hardy variety? If I got these from my mom, they are even further north than I am and she has been growing these for years. Which is weird, because I don't remember ever seeing them even though they grew right out the back door!
As far as microclimate, I have trouble growing a lot of things that say that they are zone 5 unless I protect them, so I'm not sure a zone 6 would stand a chance! But maybe I picked just the right spot in my garden. Hey, weirder things have happend in my garden.
I'm in zone 5 and I have surprise lilies and have had no problems. They produce their foliage in the spring and then flowered on their naked stalks a few weeks ago. Lots of people have them around here.
Carol, I must not be finding the variety in my searches that we can grow. They say that these are actually an amaryllis. No wonder I like this flower so much!
Tani, when my mom was telling me about these bulbs, she said that a florist friend of hers said that the bulbs of this particular plant sold for as much $40 each. But my mom is a big misrepresenter-of-the-truth so I wasn't sure what to make of that.
Hi Sylvana,
I was going to say Naked Ladies but I see that others have beaten me to it.
Have only just found your site and really like it. I only started reading gardening blogs - and writing my own - this summer, and am completely hooked. Would you like to swap links? You can find me at :
http://balcony-garden.blogspot.com
Let me know.
Sue
They are Naked Ladies.
They do go for as much as that, but this because they are primarily a "pass along" plant.
It's really tough to find them in catalogs. They are so lovely that people who don't know someone who grows them will pay that much for them.
Specifically, you have Lycoris squamigera; there are some other, iffier species. I've been meaning to try one or two others, but never get around to it. they are, indeed, the ultimate passalong. I got mine from my Mom's clump (which is still going strong, completely neglected after 50 years). It is said there is still a clump growing in Elizabeth Lawrence's garden after perhaps 75 years.
Don
Sue, oops! I totally missed these comments. But I have finally linked you. The more gardeners, the merrier!
Hanna, I don't understand why more companies wouldn't sell this while they are selling plants like liatris (totally all over my garden and I give bunches of it away every spring!!)
iboy, welcome to my blog! Thanks for the info. I will do my part in passing some of these along when they multiply enough.
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