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.

Pruning: Red spider lilies are a low maintenance plant which requires very little time and effort to thrive. When their leaves fade in springtime, some gardeners are tempted to remove their leaves, but if this is done prematurely, then the plant will be deprived of vital nutrients. As the leaves die, the plant absorbs all of the nutrients contained within the leaves. This process should be allowed to complete before removing dying leaves from the plant. Once they are entirely brown and will easily come away from the plant, they can be pruned off. Though they may look a little messy or unsightly while they are yellowing, they are providing the plant with nutrients that will help the plant flower the following season.