Red Spider Lily: Flowers With No Leaves

After a heavy summer rain, it's very likely to see strange flowers of flaming red sprout from the soil and soon become a sea of vibrant color. The flower has a peculiar shape, with long stamens that extend from narrow segments and curve backward, resembling spider's legs. This is why it is called a red spider lily.

Watering: After the initial planting, you will need to water the bulb regularly to maintain slightly moist but not wet soil. The bulb is susceptible to rotting if the conditions are too wet, so a well-draining soil will go a long way to ensuring that excess moisture is not held too close to the bulb. If your region receives regular rainfall, then you may not need to water at all during this time. Always check the condition of the soil before you water to make sure you are not drowning the plant. Once shoots start to appear, you will need to increase watering. Moderate to heavy watering while the plant is flowering will help to increase the length of time that blooms last, though always be careful not to overwater the plant and cause root rot. Flowers of this plant typically last around two weeks, after which time their foliage will develop. You can keep watering this plant while it has foliage, which is typically through winter and into early spring. As the leaves fade, the plant will enter a period of dormancy over the summer months. Watering should cease during this time, and the soil should be kept dry. Because of this plant's dormant period being during summer, which is the opposite of most plants, you should consider planting it in its own section or flower bed. If you have other flowers growing close to the red spider lily, which does need to be watered during summer, then you will likely inadvertently end up watering the soil around the spider lily and potentially cause damage to it. Begin watering again in late summer or early fall.