Golden Spider Lily, Yellow spider lily
Lycoris aurea

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

A bulb plant. It grows 45-60 cm high and spreads 45 cm wide. The leaves are fleshy and grey-green. The flowers grow on naked stalks before the leaves appear. These can be 60 cm tall. The flowers are large and yellow. The stamens are long.

There are about 18 Lycoris species. It is reported to contain two active alkaloids.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in shady and moist places on slopes, rock crevices between (100–) 500–2300 m in China. It grows in limestone areas. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The bulbs are poisonous.

Edible parts

Roots, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Lycoris, Hu di xiao, Suddenly the soil smiles

Synonyms

Amaryllis aurea L’Héritier;