John&Jacq~s Garden

Zephyranthes Species with their starry beauty

Zephyranthes species (Rain Lily, Zephyr Lily, Fairy Lily)

Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation :

• Botanical Name: Zephyranthes
• Common Name: Rain Lily, Zephyr Lily, Fairy Lily
• Family name: Amaryllidaceae
• Plant type: Clump-forming perennial less than 1 foot
• Light: Full sun or partial shade, especially in hottest areas
• Moisture: Needs regular water but do not overwater
• Soil: Grow best in rich, well-drained potting medium mix with sand
• Propagation: By dividing bulbs which include offsets and planting them 1-2 inches deep. In fact, these bulbs of Fairy Lilies are the easiest and most successful amongst all bulbs to multiply! Can also be propagated from seeds
• Features: Rain Lilies are low clump-forming perennials with dark green slim grass-like or needle-like leaves about 10-12 inches long, depending on the species. Flowers of Rain Lilies, about 2-3 inches wide are held above a hollow foot-tall stalk and usually burst into blooms after the rain (thus so called!) following a dry period. Blooms come in various colours of pink, white, yellow and others as seen here and last for about 2 days
• Usage: Spectacular when used as mass planting for landscapping, parks and gardens. Plant Zehpyr lilies as ground covers for flower beds or scatter them in borders or in pots to beautify your home garden as they blend easily!
• Care: Being hardy plants, they hardly need much attention besides the usual watering and fertilizing! Anyway, do keep the clumps neat and tidy by removing the dried and yellow leaves as well as deadheading. It’s advisable to occasionally check for root disease due to overwatering or excessive rainfall and treat it with pesticide to prevent speading!
• For temperate regions: Here is a well-informed site to know a little more about moisure and hardiness, especially for winter care!

Zephyranthes Grandiflora and Zephyranthes ‘Reginae’ are the two cultivars growing in our garden and they seem to be always smiling, especially the latter with pale yellow blooms and slim needle-like dark green foliage! However, it’s the pink Zephyr lilies that grab my attention with its large blooms above its glossy and strap-shaped deep green leaves! Absolutely beautiful and impressive, it’s easy to adore these fuss-free and inexpensive perennials! A must for all gardens indeed! ;)

Last edited: May 27, 2016

Tags: bulbs, flowering plants, groundcovers, herbaceous, indoor plants, outdoor plants, perennials, pink, yellow