Naked Ladies

Pat thought I should write about what she calls "Naked Ladies". She thought the name would increase this column's readership. These plants are also called Magic Lilies, Surprise Lilies and Spider Lilies.

Surprise Lilies are now in full bloom. These plants do well in partial shade or full sun. They are easy to grow and are relatively pest free.

Surprise Lilies were brought here from Japan and belong to the amaryllis family. They require no fertilization and no extra care.

These plants shoot up their leaves in late winter to early spring. The leaves die back as warm spring days arrive. Then suddenly in late July early August, pale pink flowers appear on top of a naked stem.

They are not easy to adapt to a landscape due to their short duration and stark appearance. Most use them planted in clumps alone. One could use them as a background plant with shorter plants in front to hide their naked appearance of no foliage.

One can dig the bulbs in September after bloom and share them with friends. The bulbs will be all sizes – plant the small ones too. It just takes them longer to bloom in most cases. These plants are also sold in garden centers.

So if you enjoy their flowering wonder, add some to your landscape. The surprise appearance of this summer bloomer should make you smile.