Surprise Lily
ExplorePlants
Surprise Lily
lycoris squamigera
The Surprise Lily is a beautiful flower that surprises everyone by blooming suddenly! Its lovely pink petals make it look like it's celebrating summer!
Habitat: Surprise Lilies thrive in well-drained soil and can often be found in gardens and meadows.
Appearance
The Surprise Lily has bare, sturdy stalks that suddenly appear, topped with clusters of large, trumpet-shaped flowers. Its vibrant pink-purple petals often recurve elegantly, revealing a delicate white or pale yellow throat, making it visually striking against the late summer landscape.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyAmaryllidaceaeGenusLycoris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's also called 'Naked Lady' because flowers pop up before leaves!
Its scientific name, 'Lycoris', means 'dazzling nymph' – how cool is that?
The lily's amazing bulbs can live for over 100 years underground!
These magical flowers can appear almost overnight in late summer!
Special abilities
Ability
Ghost Bloom
Surprise Lily has a clever 'leaf-first, flower-later' strategy, blooming on bare stalks in late summer to avoid competing with its own leaves for sunlight.
Ability
Hidden Power
Surprise Lily can stay hidden underground as a bulb for years, waiting patiently for just the right conditions to burst forth with its beautiful flowers.
Ability
Fragrance Beacon
Surprise Lily emits a sweet, captivating fragrance, acting as a powerful invisible beacon that attracts nocturnal pollinators like sphinx moths.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-60 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 5-8 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late summer to early fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar.
pollinates
White-lined Sphinx Moth
Hyles lineata
Sips nectar while hovering.
pollinates
Painted Lady butterfly
Vanessa cardui
Feeds on nectar from blooms.
Traits
Perennial
Perennial plants live for more than two years, typically returning to grow and bloom each year from their roots.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Belladonna LilyMagic LilyNaked Lady
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Surprise Lily?
30-60 cm
How wide does Surprise Lily spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Surprise Lily?
5-8 cm
When does Surprise Lily bloom?
Late summer to early fall
Is Surprise Lily edible?
No
Is Surprise Lily toxic?
Moderate
What is Surprise Lily's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Surprise Lily pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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