Jim: Lycoris aurea is hardy here for us, and has been so for well over a decade, probably only experiencing a low of 6 degrees F. While I would agree that it won't go further north, I certainly wouldn't term the leaves frost-sensitive in our garden experience. Other forms of L. aurea have been less winter hardy. Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Gardens 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of James Waddick Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 2:09 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: [pbs] 3 Yellow Lyroris Dear Jim McK and all, The Yellow flowering Lycoris tend to be very mixed up in commerce. I think this is because less than fully knowledgeable growers and gardeners tend to call every yellow Lycoris "L. aurea" as it is an 'obvious' name. Here's a clue to the more common yellow Lycoris L. chinensis Leaves produced in Spring. Plants are fully hardy to Zone 5 maybe colder. Stamens barely exceed petals. Easy and increasingly common. L. aurea. Leaves produced in fall, but the largest by far of all Lycoris species to 3 ft long and 1 inch wide. Very succulent and totally frost sensitive. May succeed in Zone 7/8 with protection Stamens far exceed petals. L. traubii As for L. aurea, but much small in all parts and equally frost sensitive. Leaves and flowers produced a month or more later than those of L. aurea. These characters should define each of these 3 yellow species. L aurea is best grown in very mild, frost-free climates, but is not easy. L. traubii is less common than either of the other two. Other yellow species are L. caldwellii, L. longituba var. flava, L. anhuiensis and L. straminea only vaguely-kind of straw/tan/pale yellow. Hope this helps. Jim W.