Jin Ling Tian Cheng: A New Ornamental Lycoris chinensis Cultivar

Abstract

Lycoris is a perennial bulbous flower belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, which is commonly known as surprise lily, hurricane lily, or spider lily due to its distinctive flowering characteristics. They bloom from summer to early fall when the flower stalks emerge from the ground without foliage, giving rise to name like “surprise lilies” (Knox 2006). Among the species, Lycoris radiata stands as a representative with its spider-like appearance, featuring six tepals arranged radially around a central reproductive structure. The petals display a diverse array of colors, including red, yellow, white, pink, and multicolor variations across different species and cultivars (Ji and Meerow 2000). In addition, the strap-like or linear-shaped leaves of Lycoris also add ornamental value, emerging before or after flowering and providing visual interest during winter and spring when the plants are not in bloom. Therefore, its surprising blooms, abundant colors, and unique growth habits make it valuable for gardens and cut flowers. According to the latest published data, there are more than 30 species in the genus, predominantly native to East Asia (Zhang et al. 2022b), with ∼80% of them naturally distributed in China. So, Lycoris boasts a rich cultivation history in Chinese gardens. Furthermore, ongoing research focuses on breeding new Lycoris cultivars, with unique traits. For instance, L. longituba cultivar Yi Xian Chun Tao exhibits pink-purple flowers, distinguishing from white L. longituba (Zhang et al. 2022a), and L. straminea cultivar E Huang Xiao Ran stands out with a larger plant and flower size with vivid red stripes on the petals, surpassing the color intensity of L. straminea (Wang et al. 2023). These new cultivars contribute to horticultural diversity and hold higher economic value for landscape and cut flower application.

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