Golden spider lily, also known as Hudixiao, is a yellow-flowered spider lily that blooms in autumn

Golden spider lily (Lycoris aurea) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Lycoris in the Amaryllidaceae family, also known as Hudixiao, yellow-flowered spider lily, and iron-colored arrow, and it is a close relative of the common red spider lily. Its bulb is nearly spherical, covered with a brown membranous outer skin, and its leaves are broadly linear, dark green and glossy.

Its most distinctive feature is that it flowers before it leafs out. In late summer and early autumn each year, the flower stalk suddenly emerges from the ground, bearing several golden-yellow flowers at the top, with the edges of the tepals wrinkled and rolled backward, and the stamens extending far out, making a striking sight when they bloom en masse. When it blooms there are no leaves on the ground; the leaves only grow out one after another after the flowers fade, which is how it got the name Hudixiao.

Golden spider lily is fairly widely distributed across the southern provinces of China, mostly growing on shady, damp hillsides, under forest canopies, or beside streams. It prefers a semi-shaded, humid environment and suitable loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. In summer, when temperatures are high, the bulb goes dormant; it blooms after autumn arrives, and overwinters with green leaves in winter.

In home cultivation, it is mainly propagated by dividing the bulbs. In spring and summer, simply separate the small bulbs growing beside the mother bulb and plant them elsewhere. When planting, do not bury them too deep. During the growing period, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and usually place it in a semi-shaded spot with diffused light, and it will grow well.

It should be noted that the whole plant of the golden spider lily contains alkaloids such as lycorine, and the bulb is highly toxic. It is for ornamental purposes only and must not be eaten, and you should wash your hands promptly after touching the sap. Its flowers are brilliantly golden-yellow and appear just when few flowers bloom in autumn, so it is often used for ground cover under trees, accent planting in flower borders, and cut flowers, making it a highly popular yellow-flowered species in the genus Lycoris.