Surprise Lilies are a Treat for the Eyes  in the Late Summer Garden

Strap-like leaves appear in spring and die back before flowering.

Surprise lilies bloom in late summer.

Lycoris plants belong to the amaryllis family. There are approximately 23 species and most are native to China or Japan. All Lycoris plants are somewhat poisonous if eaten. They contain an alkaloid called lycorine that will cause a low-level toxicity reaction if the plant is ingested. Some symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The moral of the story of course, is to avoid eating the plant, and to avoid planting it where small children or pets might be endangered.

The bulbs should be planted in July before they flower, with the neck of the bulb just above the soil line.

The plants will grow in partial shade to full sun and they tolerate our heavy clay soils quite well.

You can apply a light mulch to help with overwintering, especially if you live in USDA Zone 4.Read more at www.hort.wisc.edu