Red Spider Lily

Also known as Red Magic Lily, Equinox Flower, Hurricane Lily, Corpse Flower

Scarlet umbels burst abruptly from bare ground in late summer and early autumn, producing dramatic spidery blooms with exceptionally long, upward-curling stamens before any foliage emerges. Deep green, strap-like leaves appear only after the flowers wither, remaining photosynthetically active throughout winter before dying back in late spring. In East Asia, these perennial bulbs have long been planted along rice paddy banks and cemetery perimeters because their toxic roots deter burrowing rodents.