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Botanical name: Zephyranthes macrosiphon
This interesting bulb flower produces a mound of grassy foliage and lovely pink trumpet flowers in fall; there is also a light form that produces creamy white flowers.
Other names: Fairy Lily, Zephyr Lily
| Hardiness zone | 7a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | pink |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 6 inches (12 inches with the flowers) |
| Spread | 6 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Rain Lily features bold pink trumpet-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems in mid fall. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Rain Lily is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Rain Lily is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Rain Lily will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 6 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 3 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division.
Rain Lily is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
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