Red spider lily

Description:

A sure sign of fall in the Deep South, red spider lilies pop up in yards and along highways in late September, seemingly overnight. People smile when they appear ... a Facebook friend posted a spider lily photo just the other day. Blooms on a bare stalk. Six-photo series.

Notes:

Other common names: Hurricane lily, September surprise

Wikipedia:

Lycoris radiata (red spider lily, red magic lily) is a plant in the amaryllis family. Originally from China, it was introduced into Japan and from there to the United States and elsewhere. It flowers in the late summer or autumn, often in response to heavy rainfall. The common name hurricane lily refers to this characteristic, as do other common names, such as resurrection lily; these may be used for the genus as a whole.

Bulbous perennial. The red flowers are arranged in umbels. Individual flowers are irregular, with narrow segments which curve backwards, and long projecting stamens.

The plant was first introduced into the United States in 1854 when Japanese ports were opened for U.S. trade. Captain William Roberts, who enjoyed botany, brought back only three bulbs of the red spider lily. The bulbs were then planted by his niece who found that they do not bloom until after the first good rain in the fall season. Plants have since become naturalized in North Carolina, Texas, and many other southern states of the U.S.

Flowers in late summer or early fall, with stems around 24–28 inches tall. Leaves follow the flowers, remaining through the winter and disappearing in early summer. The bulbs are poisonous.