Talk about "surprise lily"! As in, "Suprise! I didn't know this existed on our property, much less 5 feet from the back door!" Ok, technically, I know it's not a Surprise Lily (Lycoris sp.) but it's certainly a surprise to me! I just noticed this blooming yesterday for the first time ever - and I've never had or grown rhodophiala bifida before. We've been in this house for 4 years and it's never bloomed before. The couple that lived here before were very horticulturally-inclined (heavily involved in orchids and orchid societies from what I understand), so it's not a surprise that an unknown bulb would pop up (it's happened several times now), it's more of a surprise that it just now happened after 4 years!

The color is actually slightly darker red than it appears in the pic. Popped up nestled in amongst a coleus right on the edge of the flower bed.

What a pleasant surprise! Beautiful!

Very nice!

Pretty expensive bulb, one catalog quote is $11.17 each.
Nice find.

I agree with your identification. Common names are Oxblood or Schoolhouse Lily. They are more common in central Texas, but will grow in the Houston area. They were brought to Texas by German immigrants. I brought a clump with me when I moved from Austin in 2015. They didn't bloom last year and I'm starting to see some foliage now, which makes me think I may not get blooms this year either. I know they don't like to be moved, so I'm just going to be patient.

Not a sign of mine yet. I hope they don't plan to skip a year.

Wow, congrats! That sure is pretty! I think many of us would love to have Oxblood Lily (Rhodophiala bifida) popping up in our yard. They sure seem expensive; Plant Delights has one named 'Hill Country Red' in a tiny 3 1/2 inch pot listed for $15! http://www.plantdelights.com/R...

I do have one small bloom on the Oxblood lilies. Hopefully next year will be better.

Carter, Sep is peak month for blooming so expect more surprises.
I have a clump that blooms religiously on Sep 21st. I don't understand how that happens but is a garden oddity I much enjoy

One of the reasons I like bulbs so much is the surprise. Even though they are doing what they are meant to do, It always amazes me. It also amazes me how my cat knows to wake me up between 6:00 and 7:00 AM EVERY morning!

vossner said:Carter, Sep is peak month for blooming so expect more surprises.
I have a clump that blooms religiously on Sep 21st. I don't understand how that happens but is a garden oddity I much enjoy

Ya, my yellow Lycoris are just starting to send up their blooms (also courtesy of the previous owners). Before long, my flower beds will be covered in yellow.

SALL20 said:One of the reasons I like bulbs so much is the surprise. Even though they are doing what they are meant to do, It always amazes me. It also amazes me how my cat knows to wake me up between 6:00 and 7:00 AM EVERY morning!

Lol, yes, I feel your pain. We have 2 Jack Russell terriers. Their wake up time is 5:30am.

Btw carter, unless you live in Galveston, and even there I doubt it, you s/b z9a. What makes you think z9b?
Granted, yesterday in the garden felt like 9(entire alphabet)

Only one bloomed so far...

Carter, I have two stalks of the yellow lycoris getting ready to bloom They totally surprised me last year when they bloomed for the first time; I thought they were paperwhite narcissus when I planted them.

Oh, Betsy, that would be a wonderful surprise! I don't have the yellow ones and now of course I want them!

Here is the area where most blom in unisom. There are a few that have already bloomed and are spent, but the original bunch should appear tomorrow.
But watch these bulbs make a liar out of me. It is as hot as it was in July so I don't know if that will affect blooming. It should be about 5 deg. Cooler but not so far.

vossner said:Btw carter, unless you live in Galveston, and even there I doubt it, you s/b z9a. What makes you think z9b?
Granted, yesterday in the garden felt like 9(entire alphabet)

Ya, it "cooled" slightly for a few days (like, down to low/mid 90's), but then this weekend the heat poured back on. As for zones, we rarely get below 30F, much less 25F. 9b min temp is 25-30F, zone 9a is 20-25F.

well rhodos did not sprout on 9/21 perhaps b/c of torrential rains during that time. But here they are, in all their splendor.

Very nice. I may have a little wait before mine spreads that much.

Beautiful, Vossner. I had five bloom this far. Are yours getting sun and shade?