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Zephyranthes candida

Rain Lily

Plant Type:

ARID LAND PLANTS

Zephyranthes candida – ​Flowering for us recurrently from middle-late season until frost the white flowers of this Rain Lily look very much like white autumn Crocus amid glossy dark green grass-like leaves. It's grassy leaves remain dark green and verdant all through the growing season. Rains do, indeed, prompt the recurrent blooming tendency of this delightful bulb. We have ours planted against the full sun south-facing foundation of our home where it has thrived and increased since 1999. In hotter climes with more intense sun it may settle happily in open garden conditions in part shade. Zephyranthes candida has gradually increased its garden domain at Quackin' Grass. This species Rain Lily hales from the La Plata region of South America. Pot grown bulbs, multiple bulbs in the pot.


Height:

5-7 in

Zone:

(5 sheltered)6 to 10
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Zephyranthes candida

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Summer / Autumn

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn

Light

  • Full Sun

Attributes

  • Border
  • Rock Garden
  • Drought Tolerant
  • Potted Plant
  • Edging
  • Greenhouse / Alpine House

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Draining
  • Fertile

Propagated By

  • Offset

Genus Overview: Zephyranthes

Common Name: Rain Lily

I have a growing affection for these easy care, beautiful flowering bulbs which for us begin flowering successively in middle-late summer continuing into autumn. Buds quickly emerge after a shower, hence, their common name: Rain Lily. We have planted ours, in the case of Z. sp. 'Labuffarosa' and Z. candida at the south foundation of our home where they have clumped-up with their clean grassy green foliage through the growing season topped with their resplendent flowers later. For years I have draped burlap over them to "get them through the winter" but stopped this practice a few years back; it has neither hurt nor slowed them down in the least. And at the 2011 time they've been in the ground here for 12 years having come through every kind of weird and changeable winter we have in northeastern Connecticut. And though they are sheltered in this spot I venture to say they seem to demonstrate greater hardiness than perhaps once thought. And now, through the magnificent breeding work of Fadjar Marta of Indonesia, glorious new colors are coming available. All are offered as flowering-sized bulb offsets from their moms! However, we have not yet planted any of his remarkable offerings in the ground as of yet as we are building up stock. Plant Rain Lily in fertile draining soil in full sun up north.