Naked lady is a summer flowering bulb in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) native to Africa and is often found growing in rocky soils. It has naturalized in many areas with a Mediterranean-type climate. The Genus name comes from the Ancient Greek verb amarýssō (ἀμαρύσσω), meaning "sparkle, shine". The specific epithe t belladonna is derived from the Italian bella donna , which means beautiful lady. The common name comes from the flower stalk appearing once the leaves have withered. Plant bulbs in the ground or pots in fall with the top of the bulb just above the soil line and 6 to 12 inches apart or 1 to 2 bulbs per square foot. These drought-tolerant plants will grow 2-3 feet tall and wide and prefer well-drained soils in full sun. Propagates through its perennial mother bulb that produces offset bulblets or through seed. The seeds require a warm (60 to 80 degrees F) to cool (35 to 50 degrees F) to warm (60 to 80 degrees F) annual thermoperiodic cycle. The strap-shaped leaves generally appear in spring and die down by summer. In late summer to fall 1 to 2 stems emerge that have 6 to 12 trumpet-shaped fragrant soft pink flowers that attract pollinators Use in beds, rock gardens, border fronts, containers and woodland gardens. In areas lower than zone 8 the bulbs will need to be lifted and stored in a warmer environment. Insects, Diseases and other Pant Problems: A generally disease-free plant. Aphids, mealybugs, and red spider mite are occasional pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Columnar; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Clumps of strap-shaped, 12-20" long dull-green leaves spring or sometimes fall. They will die down by early summer.
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Each stalk has a cluster of up to 12 blooms and each pale pink bloom is 3-4 inches, trumpet-shaped with long upturned styles and a delicate fragrance. Flowers will face the direction receiving the most sun.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit forms a trivalve capsule with brown to black seeds.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
After the leaves die down, the leafless purplish/red or green stalks grow. They appear to grow directly from the soil. Stems are leafless and hollow.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa, Cape
Wildlife value
Toxic to animals
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Meadow; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Mass Planting; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#hardy #full sun tolerant #red flowers #bulb #perennial bulbs #pink flowers #drought tolerant #summer bulbs #fragrant flowers #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #rock garden #summer flowers #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #bedding plants #showy flowers #border front #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage; Mealybugs; Southern Red Mite and Spruce Spider Mite
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Diseases; Drought; Dry Soil; Rabbits
Particularly resistant to
Normally not susceptible to animals, such as deer or rabbit, drought
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors. The plant toxicity is more pronounced in pets, especially cats.