Lycoris × albiflora ("Shirobanamanjushage")

Japanese name: シロバナマンジュシャゲ （白花曼珠沙華）
Scientific name: Lycoris × albiflora

[Overview]
A perennial 30–60 cm tall, found near houses and in moist places in the hills and fields.
It has a poisonous, broadly ovate underground bulb.
The leaves are basal, linear, yellow-green, 30–40 cm long and 1.1–1.6 cm wide.
The leaves appear in autumn, overwinter, die back before summer, and the plant is dormant during the summer.
A cylindrical flower stalk 30–60 cm tall grows from the bulb and bears an umbel at its tip, with several flowers arranged radially.
The flowers are funnel-shaped with 6 petals; they are tinged with red or yellow when they begin to open and then turn white, and the tepals are lanceolate and recurved.
The stamens and pistil protrude long.
It does not bear fruit.

[History]
It is a hybrid of Higanbana and Shoki-zuisen.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by dividing the bulbs.
It can be left planted for several years without problem.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil that retains moisture and is well aerated.
It dislikes excess moisture.
During leafless dormancy it does better in shade and on the dry side, so for plants in the ground it is good to plant them under deciduous trees or among summer grasses.
For potted plants, from the time the flower stalks emerge until before dormancy, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; during dormancy, water only enough to keep the soil from drying out completely.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
After flowering, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium.
When the flowers are over, snap them off at the flower neck.
There are no particular pests or diseases, but soft rot may occur if the soil is too wet.

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