Why do my lilies have no leaves?

The leaves appear after the flowers fade, so it is normal to see bare stalks during bloom.

How deep should I plant the bulbs?

Plant them with the neck of the bulb just at or slightly above the soil surface.

Plant guide

Red spider lily.

Lycoris radiata

Pronounced ly-KOR-iss ray-dee-AY-tuh

Also known as Red spider lily, hurricane lily, red magic lily, red spider-lily, spider-lily

The red spider lily is a stunning bulbous perennial that sends up dramatic, spidery red blooms in late summer or early autumn. Its foliage typically emerges after the flowers fade and stays green through the winter. It is a classic choice for adding a pop of color to your garden when other plants are winding down.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Bulbous perennial
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 10
Bloom time: Late summer to early autumn

Care

Plant your bulbs with the neck just above the soil surface in a spot with good drainage. Keep the soil moist while the leaves are present during the winter, but let it dry out during the summer dormancy. Watch for yellowing leaves as a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.

Watering: Water regularly during the active growing season in fall and winter.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in autumn as the new leaves emerge, and optionally again in late winter while the foliage is still green.
Pruning: Remove dead foliage only after it has turned yellow and withered naturally.
Repotting: Only repot when the bulbs become too crowded and flowering begins to decline.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -12 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for decades if left undisturbed.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Bulbs are crowded and pushing out of the soil
Flowering performance has significantly declined

Safety

People: The bulbs contain lycorine and other alkaloids that are poisonous to humans and pets.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep bulbs away from children as they look like onions and are highly toxic if eaten.
Contact allergens: Handling the bulbs may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant reports of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and can cause severe gastrointestinal distress.

How to identify it

Bright red spidery petals
Long protruding stamens
Strap like green leaves
Blooms on leafless stalks

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.25m
Leaves: dark green, deciduous
Flowers: red, 10 to 15cm

Problems to watch for

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division
When to plant: late summer, early autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, apply a light layer of mulch to protect the bulbs from deep freezes. Ensure the soil remains well drained to prevent rot during wet winters.
In containers: They grow well in containers if provided with excellent drainage and a deep pot to accommodate root growth.

Bulb Division

1. Wait until the foliage has completely died back in late spring.
2. Carefully dig up the clump of bulbs without damaging the roots.
3. Gently separate the offsets from the parent bulb.
4. Replant the bulbs immediately at the same depth they were previously growing.

Pair with low growing perennials that fill in the space after the lily foliage goes dormant in late spring.

Grows well with

Daylily · They provide foliage cover once the lily leaves die back.
Liriope · The evergreen grass like foliage hides the bare soil during the lily's dormant phase.

Similar species

Golden Spider Lily · It is a closely related species with similar growth habits but yellow flowers.

Science

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Genus: Lycoris
Order: Asparagales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: China, Korea, and Japan.
Conservation: This plant is not of conservation concern and is widely naturalized in many regions.

It thrives in disturbed areas and woodland edges, often spreading through bulb division in well drained soils.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: butterflies
Uses: ornamental border, naturalizing, cut flowers

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why do my lilies have no leaves?: The leaves appear after the flowers fade, so it is normal to see bare stalks during bloom.
How deep should I plant the bulbs?: Plant them with the neck of the bulb just at or slightly above the soil surface.

Where the name comes from

The name Lycoris refers to a sea nymph in Greek mythology, while radiata describes the radiating arrangement of the petals.

Good to know

These are often planted in cemeteries in Japan, leading to the nickname grave lilies.
The leaves emerge in autumn and persist through winter before dying back in late spring.
They are famously associated with the arrival of the autumn equinox.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.