Lycoris aurea

A stunning amaryllid from Asia, Lycoris aurea has umbels of exceptionally beautiful golden yellow flowers with delicate undulating margins and irresistibly long filamentous stamens. Held aloft on tall erect scapes they flower in autumn and are a real seasonal joy at a time when most other plants have finished flowering.

Lycoris aurea is very easy to grow and although it can be a challenge to get to flower, it is however, a very rewarding challenge and well worth the time it takes. They dislike being disturbed or transplanted and bulbs will usually take a season or two to establish themselves. During this time they may appear to be doing very little; the long ligulate leaves are - nontheless - very attractive, creating small strappy explosions of foliage. These appear in autumn and remain throughout most of the winter before the plant goes dormant during the summer months. During this slightly confusing cycle, patience is needed and just as you were beginning to doubt whether they would ever flower, the first sighting in October of the flowering scape is a surprise and genuine joy.

They make ideal planting companions to Tricyrtis that also flower around the same time, but prefer slightly better drainage to the Toad Lily.

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