Hummingbirds Will Stop By To Visit Your Yard For The Blooms On These Unique Flowers

Hummingbirds aren't just fun to watch, they're also great pollinators. While there are a variety of ways to attract hummingbirds to your garden, one of the best strategies is to grow plants and flowers that they like. Considering how well the color red attracts hummingbirds, it's no surprise that many of the best flowers to add are a brilliant crimson shade. One of the prettiest and most unique flowers to grow for hummingbirds is the red spider lily (Lycoris radiata).

Unlike white spider lilies (Hymenocallis latifolia), which are native to Florida, red spider lilies hail from Japan, China, and Korea. However, they are not known to be invasive in North America. Red spider lilies aren't just hummingbird magnets. Their distinctive spoke-like blooms also attract butterflies. One important thing to know before you plant red spider lilies is that their bulbs are somewhat toxic. So, if you have young children or curious pets, you may want to use caution when planting these beauties. 

Unlike daffodils and many other flowering bulbs, red spider lilies don't bloom in spring or early summer, instead waiting until late summer. They also differ from many other bulbs in that the ideal time to plant them is early autumn. Hardy in zones 6 through 10, red spider lilies thrive in soil that is moist, but well-drained. They also require full or partial sun. As long as you grow them in a good spot, they should return year after year. 

Because spider lilies generally grow to only about 18 inches, they're perfect to add toward the front of pollinator gardens. You can easily pair them with many other plants like beebalm and petunias that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Just don't forget where you planted your red spider lilies, as there is generally no sign of them until their flowers pop up in late summer, earning them the nickname surprise lilies.