Expect the unexpected. Maybe the biggest surprise in surprise lilies is that they are much more cold-tolerant than most garden lore would lead you to believe.

While summer-flowering and tropical-looking, this lycoris is easily hardy to 20 degrees below zero, and has endured repeated stints of 25 degrees below (unprotected) in my north-facing backyard.

The surprise lily's name, however, actually refers to the way the strap leaves emerge in early summer, then die back completely. Then about six or eight weeks later -- surprise! -- a flower stalk arises, and from its apex nodding pink trumpets unfold, releasing their sweet, candylike fragrance.

These stalks are otherwise unencumbered by leaves, or foliage of any kind, lending the plant one of its other, racier, common names: naked ladies. Oh, my.

Most other lycorises -- such as radiata, the spider lily -- can't take below-zero chills, so if you live where you get a real winter, make sure to specify squamigera.

And here's another surprise: You can plant this bulb in either fall or spring. Try them in the middle of your flower beds, where up-front foliage can hide your naked ladies' long, bare gams.

Light: Full sun.
Hardiness: To at least 20 degrees below zero.
Growth habit: 3 feet tall.
Bloom time: Summer.