The Fiery Beauty: What the Red Spider Lily Symbolizes
Red spider lilies have an alluring and unusual beauty that is further highlighted by their electric-red hue that lights gardens, fields, and riverbanks on fire during their blooming season. These attractive flowers, however, have a less beautiful symbolism that gives them a special place in traditions but a less prominent place in floral arrangements or inside the home. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about the Red Spider Lily’s meaning and cultural significance in the language of flowers.

- Red Spider Lily Meaning โ The Essentials
- Etymological meaning
- Spider Lily Flower Colors and Their Symbolism
- Red Spider Lilies in Hanakotoba
- Autumn Festivals and Red Spider Lilies
- Red Spider Lilies in Buddhism
- Red Spider Lilies in Japanese Christianity
- Red Spider Lilies in Japanese Legend
- Red Spider Lilies and Bad Luck
- Suitable Gifting Occasions for Red Spider Lilies
- Red Spider Lily Meaning FAQs:
Red Spider Lily Meaning โ The Essentials
The most prominent symbolic meaning associated with red spider lilies is death due to the practice of planting them or placing them on gravesites for protection and as tributes to the dead. Red spider lilies are also considered to be the flowers of heaven and also represent final goodbyes, abandonment, and bad luck in the language of flowers.
Etymological meaning
The red spider’s lily’s common name refers to the flower’s appearance and tendency to bloom after exceptionally hard rains.
Its scientific names come from two ancient words. Lycoris is ancient Greek for “twilight.” Radiata is Latin for “to beam” or “to shine.” In taxonomy, however, the word radiata also usually describes symmetrical radiating points in biological forms. This is the more likely origin of radiata in Lycoris radiata, as the red spider lily’s stamens offer this circular symmetry to the flowers.
Spider Lily Flower Colors and Their Symbolism

Lycoris radiata only blooms in red, but other species of spider lilies from the Lycoris genus have differently colored flowers, and they also have different symbolic meanings.
- Red Spider Lily (Lycoris radiata) – Red spider lilies are strongly associated with death, last goodbyes, and sad memories. They are thought of as the flowers of the heavens.
- Pink Spider Lily (Lycoris squamigera) – Pink spider lilies symbolize love, passion, and feminine beauty.
- Orange Spider Lily (Lycoris sanguinea) – An orange spider lily symbolizes confidence, pride, honor, conviction, and wealth. An orange lily can also be associated with success, fun, and enthusiasm.
- Yellow Spider Lily (Lycoris aurea) – A yellow spider lily symbolizes richness and wealth. It can also symbolize gratitude, cheerfulness, friendship, courage, and wisdom.
- Blue Spider Lily (Lycoris sprengeri) – Blue spider lilies symbolize calm energy and truth. They also represent positivity, inspiration, trustworthiness, reliability, stability, accuracy, and freedom.
- White Spider Lily (Lycoris albiflora) – White spider lilies symbolize freshness, new beginnings, and positive nature.
Red Spider Lilies in Hanakotoba
Hanakotoba is the Japanese language of flowers. Similar to the Victorian flower language (floriography), hanakotoba assigns meanings to different species and/or colors of flowers so that they can be used as an alternative form of communication.
In this tradition, a red spider lily (higanabana or manjushage) means abandonment, never to meet again, or lost memory.
Autumn Festivals and Red Spider Lilies

Since they bloom in autumn, red spider lilies are associated with the arrival of fall and are incorporated into seasonal festivals in Japan, China, Nepal, and Korea. For example, the Satte Hibangana Festival celebrates the blossoming of the second largest display of red spider lilies in Japan. (The largest display is in Kinchakuda).
Red Spider Lilies in Buddhism
In Buddhism, it is a common practice to mark the arrival of autumn and offer a tribute by placing bouquets of red spider lilies at their ancestors’ graves.
The Lotus Sutra describes red spider lilies as flowers that grow in hell. As a result, certain Chinese and Japanese Buddhist traditions believe that these flowers help lead spirits through the afterlife and into reincarnation.
Red Spider Lilies in Japanese Christianity
Legend also says that red spider lilies bloomed in the places where Japanese Christian martyrs were killed during medieval times.
Red Spider Lilies in Japanese Legend
More legends say when a person crosses paths with someone whom they will never meet again, that red spider lilies bloom along the path. In addition to their association with death and the afterlife, these legends are also partly responsible for the flower’s association with final goodbyes.
Red Spider Lilies and Bad Luck
Although red spider lilies were planted at gravesites as an offering and a symbol of protection, they are so strongly associated with death that they are considered to be bad luck. For this reason, many people will not bring red spider lilies into their homes.
Suitable Gifting Occasions for Red Spider Lilies

Red spider lilies are not suitable for gifting occasions other than funerals and memorials. They are strongly associated with final goodbyes and death.
Red spider lilies, however, are a good flower choice for memorial services, remembrance, and funerals. In Buddhist traditions, they are commonly planted on graves as a tribute to the dead. Similarly, bouquets of red spider lilies are also given as altar offerings to honor one’s ancestors.
Red Spider Lily Meaning FAQs:
What Do Red Spider Lily Flowers Symbolize?
Red spider lily flowers symbolize death, final goodbyes, abandonment, and bad luck.
Do Red Spider Lilies Come Back Every Year?
Red spider lilies are perennials that come back every year.
How Long Do Red Spider Lilies Last?
The red spider lily’s blooming period lasts for about two weeks once their flowers open.
Do Red Spider Lilies Flower More Than Once?
A single red spider lily bulb can produce about five blossoms every year. However, each stem and blossom bloom only once per year.
Are Red Spider Lilies Toxic?
All parts of red spider lilies are toxic to both people and animals. The flowers, stalks, and leaves are mildly poisonous, while the bulbs are highly poisonous.
Red Spider Lily Meaning โ The Final Word
With their striking bright red blossoms, red spider lilies are stunning and alluring flowers to behold. The unfortunately negative connotations associated with their symbolic meaning, however, prevent many people from enjoying their beauty. So, if you ascribe to symbolic meanings, you likely won’t be ordering bouquets of red spider lilies for your home or as gifts anytime soon. If you don’t ascribe to symbolism in flowers, you might as well plant them in your garden, bring them inside, and enjoy their fiery red hue.