White Spider Lily (Lycoris albiflora)

The Elegant White Cousin of the Red Spider Lily

The white spider lilies (Lycoris albiflora) are often seen blooming at the same time and in the same regions as the red spider lily (Lycoris radiata). In fact, they look very similar to the red spider lily, except that they are white. Chris Wiesinger first collected his from a garden in Natchez, Mississippi, where they seem to thrive. That garden belonged to one of the founding members of the Southern Garden History Society.

How They Bloom

White spider lilies bloom just like the red spider lilies — completely different from most regular flowers. Spider lily bulbs often need 1–2 years in the ground before they bloom. Your bulbs are developing a strong root system to support future foliage and eventually blooms. You might see foliage from November through April, but don’t be concerned if you don’t right away.

Most people still expect to see something growing during the summer months. You won’t see anything — these lilies are dormant in the summer. The flowers suddenly appear with the first late summer and early fall rains. One day there is nothing growing and then suddenly you have a surprise, a fully blooming flower!

The Importance of Foliage

The foliage is what allows the bulb to grow and multiply. Many people get concerned if they don’t see the spider lily bloom the first year, but the foliage is what you watch for. Even if the foliage gets hit by a winter cold snap, it will have taken in nutrients for months. Always allow the foliage to die down naturally and don’t cut it off. If you cut it, you are killing the bulb. Once the foliage is completely dead, usually around May, the area can be mowed.

Blooming

White spider lilies should bloom in September after being in the ground for a year. However, depending on rainfall, they may skip a year. Once established in your garden, they are there for a lifetime. Some say the flowers bloom two weeks after the first good fall rain. If there is no rain during September, the bulbs have been known to not bloom at all. Individual blooms cluster together on a stalk to create a softball-sized display.

Sun Requirements

The single most important thing about landscaping with spider lilies is the sun. They need at least half a day of WINTER sun — about 6–8 hours of sunlight during the winter months. The spider lily puts on its foliage during the winter (November–May) and that is when it takes in the nutrients it needs to produce those striking white flowers the following September.

Planting and Care

Don’t plant the bulb too deep. Plant the bulbs 2–3 times the height of the bulb deep. You can plant 2–3 per hole to make the blooms look more natural. White spider lilies do well in any type of soil, though you may want to amend heavy clay. They thrive in soil rich in organic material but do not require fertilizer. Newly planted bulbs would actually be harmed by fertilizer.

After planting, water the soil thoroughly. Once summer starts, the white spider lily does best in soil that dries out a little, but unlike the red spider lily, it doesn’t like to be completely dry during summer. Too much moisture will lead to bulb rot.

Companion Plants

Perennials: Salvias (including Salvia leucantha and ‘Henry Duelberg’), lantanas, plumbago, and Phlox ‘John Fanick’ — one of the best summer phlox for covering dormant spider lilies.

Annuals: Alyssum ‘White Stream’, snapdragons, pansies, cyclamen, and paperwhites for winter color.

Bulbs: Narcissus, white iris, snowflakes, rain lilies, crinums, and hymenocallis to carry bulb displays through every season.

Multiplying and Dividing

The white spider lily multiplies with new bulb offsets quite readily. The best time to divide is at the beginning of April, when the foliage has absorbed winter and early spring nutrients. A more practical answer on when to dig and transplant: when you have time! No matter what time you transplant spider lilies, they often skip a year of bloom after being disrupted.

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