Lycoris aurea SEEDS

Lycoris aurea seeds grow into the golden spider lily a bulbous geophyte native to the subtropical biome of central and southern China and Indo-China, from Sichuan and Yunnan east through Guangxi, Guangdong and Fujian, and south into Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Originally described as Amaryllis aurea by L’Hritier de Brutelle (1789) and transferred to Lycoris by William Herbert. Synonyms include Nerine aurea (L’Hr.) Sweet, Amaryllis africana Lam. and Lycoris africana. Produces spectacular umbels of vivid golden-yellow flowers with dramatically long, wavy, reflexed petals and conspicuously protruding stamens in summer, before the leaves emerge. Medicinal uses across its Chinese range. Naturalised in parts of the southern USA (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana). The genus Lycoris was named by Herbert after Lycoris, a celebrated figure in Roman antiquity. All parts contain toxic Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, including galantamine a compound now used in pharmaceutical treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Family Amaryllidaceae.

Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soils; warm subtropical conditions; dry summer dormancy; leaves appear after flowering season. All parts toxic keep from children and pets.

• Originally Amaryllis aurea L’Hr. (1789); transferred by Herbert; synonyms incl. Nerine aurea, Lycoris africana
• Vivid golden-yellow spider flowers with long wavy reflexed petals; flowers appear before leaves
• Central & S. China to Indo-China subtropical biome; naturalised in S. USA; medicinal
• All parts contain Amaryllidaceae alkaloids incl. galantamine (Alzheimer’s pharmaceutical); toxic
• Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soils; warm subtropical; Family Amaryllidaceae

Lycoris aurea is the golden spider lily its vivid golden-yellow spider-like flowers emerging from bare ground before the leaves appear, a spectacular bulb from the subtropical forests of China whose toxic alkaloids include galantamine, now extracted for pharmaceutical treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.