Lycoris Radiata zone hardiness?

What is the lowest temperature (winterwise) for anyone who has succeeded with Lycoris Radiata in the ground over the winter.

I just recently received four in a co-op, but am concerned now that upstate NY (Albany) might get too cold. I think the zone here is 5A.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Should these bulbs winter inside?

Radiata should be dug and stored for winter. The Squamigera is hardy from zone 4 on.

Thanks, bleek...that leaves me with only about 296 bulbs to plant instead of 300. Thanks for all of your help. I will be sending you a thank you card in March, after the end of a looooooooooooooong NY winter and the flowers start coming up!!

I've never heard of anyone digging them up before. They're hardy to zone 6 for sure and maybe even zone 3 (from several web sites).

My mom's are just now coming up and she's in zone 6. I'm in zone 8 and mine have been up since the storm (Isadore) swept through last week.

Bleek,
Why do you dig yours up?

Hope this helps.
~Carla

I'd be very grateful if our northern gardeners will post their personal experiences with this plant, specifically in the PDB. There is a lot of conflicting information out there (some sites say hardy only to 28F, others to zero, etc.) One of the best services we can provide with the PDB is when we register our personal experience for other gardeners to learn from.

So if you've successfully gardened with L. radiata (or any other so-called "semi-hardy" bulb) north of zone 6 or 7, we'd especially like to hear from you: what zone are you in, how many winters have you had them in the ground, have you ever suffered significant cold damage to them, etc.

I checked mine this week after someone told me they weren't hardy.

they have survived a chill of -12C/?5F for a week in the new year

I've had them here for 10 years or so and I never dig them. No one here digs them that I know of.

Sbarr, thanks for asking this. Carla sent me some in a trade and I'm wondering if I should plant them or store them until spring. I plan to put them on the east side of the house, near the house. I am in a quandry. I have some zone 6 plants out there, and a good layer of mulch. Maybe I'll try it - Carla will you have more next year if this is a bust?? LOL

Kathleen,

I wish I could say "yes", but the Air Force will probably be sending us somewhere else by this time next year, so you really shouldn't count on me for anything. :)

As for planting, I'd suggest you put them in the ground now. They will be sending up foliage very soon, and will need the time in the ground to store up nutrient for blooming next fall. Since you have at least a dozen, I would consider planting some at different depths to see what happens, also.

I hope this helps.

And mulch/cover...I have successfully overwintered Crinums, even though they're only hardy to zone 8 (I think that's right...) So a good covering of mulch, plus a row cover or blanket when the really cold stuff hits can make a zone (or more) difference :)

Kathleen, another thought is to pot some of them up, and keep them in a frost-free crawl space, basement, cellar, etc. I have done that with Agapanthus (another non-hardy bulb here), and they've done fine. I sink them back in the ground (pot and all) each spring. I just wish they'd hurry up and fill out those pots so they can bloom!) Next year, always next year...

Good advice, Terry. Thanks.

The weather has taken me out of it for a few days - possible snow/rain mix on Friday, so I may just put them all in pots in the back room. Monday was perfect October weather, bright blue skies, changing leaves, mild temps. today is not quite perfectly awful, grey dripping skies, chill temps and drooping leaves.