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Rain Lily Zephyranthes drummondii

Previously known as:

  • Cooperia pedunculata
  • Zephyranthes herbertiana
Phonetic Spelling
ze-fi-RANTH-eez drum-AWN-dee-eye
Description

Evening Star Rainlily is a bulb with fragrant dainty white flowers in the amaryllis family.  The flowers open in the evening and last a few days making it an excellent choice for a nighttime garden. The flowers often appear a day or two after a rain. They are fragrant, white aging to pink and showy. Blooming occurs best in full sun but they can tolerate light shade.

It is native to prairies and meadows of western and south-central USA and can be used for naturalizing and tolerates mowing.  Plant bulbs 2 inches deep in well-drained soil. They spread by bulb offsets and seeds.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fedora'
    Larger flowers
'Fedora'
Tags:
#bulb#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#white flowers#mass planting#nighttime garden#night-flowering#naturalizes#sensory garden#HS302#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#patio#meadow
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fedora'
    Larger flowers
'Fedora'
Tags:
#bulb#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#white flowers#mass planting#nighttime garden#night-flowering#naturalizes#sensory garden#HS302#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#patio#meadow
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zephyranthes
    Species:
    drummondii
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    FL, LA, TX and Mexico
    Distribution:
    AR , KS , LA , MS , NM , OK , TX
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees and butterflies
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    3 lobed capsule with many seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    6 petaled white flowers on terminal leafless stems open in the evening. They last 2-4 days, age to pink, then wither. Blooms May-Sept.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Sheath
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Glaucous flat linear foliage elongates after blooming ends
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Stems are green, round and hollow
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Garden for the Blind
    Nighttime Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting