Lots of Amaryllis belladona in this area where they naturalize. I have never seen them bloom before August. Al

Al:

I know that you are correct about the bloom time of A. Belladonna.

I'm baffled. I wonder if there is a lycoris that blooms in the spring? Maybe I saw a type of lycoris?

But, from what I've read, Lycrois also bloom in the fall. (Most Lycoris doesn't do very well here, it's just too hot.)

This is a quote on Amaryllis Belladonna from the Southern Living Garden Book:
Bold, straplike leaves form a fountainlike clump about 1 foot high and 2 feet wide in fall and winter; the foliage dies down completely in late spring or early summer. About 6 weeks later, leafless stalks rise from bare earth to a height of 2 to 3 feet; each topped by a cluster of 4 to 12 fragrant, trumpet-shaped, rosy pink flowers. This could be what you describe.

In addition, here's 2 other considerations:
Lycoris haywardii: 20 inches high. Magenta pink flowers resemble those of l. squamigera, but petals are more deeply divided.
Lycoris sprengeri has purplish pink flowers.
They are both supposed to be similar to Lycoris squamigera, which blooms in fall, not spring.

I'm baffled too. (and intrigued.) If you figure it out, please share!!

Part of the mystery has been solved:

Sometimes these plants bloom at funny times, especially the first year they are planted. Sometimes it's hard to recieve and plant them at the exact time, so they may be "off". So the literature says one thing, but the plants are doing something else.

One gardenweb member got some bulbs from someone up north, some of her's bloom in the spring and some of them bloom in the fall.

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for logging back!