Zephyranthes sp. (Fairy Lily)
Botanical name: Zephyranthes sp.
Common names: Fairy Lily, Zephyr Lily, Magic Lily, Atamasco Lily, Rain Lily
Family: Amaryllidaceae (Formerly:Alliaceae / Liliaceae / Amaryllidaceae)
Origin: USA, Central and South America
Various members of the genus may bloom spring only or repeat and continue into autumn, often a few days after rainstorms thus one of the common names, Rain Lily. Most are spring or summer flowering.
Cultivation from seed is easy in this group. Seeds are papery and can be floated but they sprout very easily sown under just a thin covering of sowing medium. Sow the seeds in a well-drained mix and keep in a warm place. The seedlings will grow well in warm weather and respond well to fertilizer. As with any papery seeded amaryllids, these have a relatively short viability period.
Zephyranthes pulchella - Showy Zephyrlily - is found in the coastal prairies and wet roadsides of eastern Texas and Gulf Coast Louisiana. The leaves grow through the winter and spring and die off in summer; flowering occurs in autumn. Leaves are linear and sedge-like and flowers are golden yellow. Pulchella means "pretty". These spectacular rain lilies growing in the highway medians near Refugio, Texas, on the east coast of that state. The glossy green leaves serve as a nice foil to the bright yellow flowers that are held just atop the foliage. The vigorously multiplying clumps flower for us from late summer into fall.
Zephyranthes flowers are very similar to Habranthus flowers and both are called rain lilies. Habranthus flowers point upward BUT at an angle and have unequal stamens, and Zephyranthes flowers point straight up and have equal stamens. Zephyranthes flowers tend to be star shaped and Habranthus have somewhat irregular flowers. Additionally, the seeds of Habranthus are slightly winged (and thicker).
Few flowers create as much surprise and delight as a rain lily. Zephyranthes Lucky All Over produces cheerful bright pink, crocus-like blooms that seem to appear almost overnight, often just days after a summer rain shower or a thorough watering. One day the garden is green, and the next it's dotted with vibrant pink flowers.
This charming perennial bulb forms clumps of slender, grass-like foliage that remain attractive throughout the growing season. The flowers rise above the foliage on short stems, creating a natural, carefree display that looks beautiful in garden beds, borders, rock gardens, and containers.
A reliable bloomer, Lucky All Over flowers repeatedly from spring through summer, often responding to changes in moisture and weather conditions. As the bulbs mature, they multiply readily, creating larger and more impressive drifts of color each year.
Growing about 8 inches tall, this compact plant is easy to fit into almost any garden space. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Once established, it is remarkably drought tolerant while also adapting well to regular garden irrigation.
Cold hardy in USDA Zones 7b-10b, Zephyranthes Lucky All Over returns year after year with minimal care. In colder climates, the bulbs can be grown in containers and protected from hard freezes during winter.
Easy to grow, long-lived, and full of surprises, this delightful rain lily brings bursts of color to the garden whenever nature decides it's time to bloom.
See Article about this plant.
Recommended Fertilizer: SUNSHINE Megaflor - Bloom Nutrition Booster