The red spider lily, or scientifically known as the "lycoris radiata," is a cultivated, late summer blooming perennial bulb in the amaryllis family. It is native to China, Japan, Korea and Nepal and is usually found in shady, moist areas along slopes and rocky areas near stream banks. This flower symbolizes death and reincarnation. In Japan, the red spider lily is known as “Higanbana“, which roughly means “The flower that blooms during the (fall) equinox”. It blooms around the time of the autumn equinox in late September to early fall all across Japan. The red spider lily may also be called "naked ladies" or "surprise lilies" as the flowers appear on leafless stems and out of nowhere! This flower is poisonous however, containing the alkaloid poison lycorine. These flowers can grow up to 2 ft in height, and bloom in the spring, summer and autumn.
The red spider lily often appears in shows and cartoons to foreshadow an upcoming death. In the anime "Demon Slayer", the red spider lily appeared frequently in the first season of the show. As the end credits roll, viewers are greeted by the luminous presence of the red spider lilies.The significance of this crimson bloom fits Demon Slayer's story since many characters meet their demise early in the series. In a twist, the show introduces a counterpart; the blue spider lily. While the traditional red variant is steeped in themes of sorrow and death, its blue counterpart takes on a medicinal role, symbolizing health and life. According to Demon Slayer lore, the series's main antagonist, Muzan Kibutsuji, has searched for the blue spider lily for hundreds of years.
