Lycoris
James Waddick (Sat, 08 May 2004 06:56:48 PDT)

Dear all;
Because commercial Lycoris are almost routinely mishandled
(dug early, dried and stored too long) they enter the garden
stressed. Bulbs can take up to 3 years or more to recover and bloom
properly. I'd guess that it is more common to have some stress than
not from most suppliers.

As for hardiness in Southern Zones. There are two distinct
sub-genera in the genus. The group that includes L. squamigera has
spring foliage and comes from more northern locations and does no do
well in the south. The second group which includes L. radiata and has
foliage that appears in the fall does best in southern locations. L.
aurea(the true species which is not as common as some substitutes)
does not much like frost of any sort. It naturally occurs in and
near tropical regions of S. Asia.

Thus do not grow northern species in the south-they hate it.
Grow warm climate species and have regular good bloom in the south.

Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
E-fax 419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +