We are fascinated with the wonderful group of zephyranthes (rain lilies). Zephyranthes are unobtrusive, summer-flowering bulbs that can fit in any garden, with a flower range from yellow to white to pink. The great thing about zephyranthes is the lack of large foliage that often accompanies many other spring-flowering bulbs. There are zephyranthes that grow in conditions from bogs to deserts, with most having an incredible tolerance to heat. We are thrilled that our butterflies find these a wonderful nectar source summer. Our zephyranthes (rain lily) collection is one of the best in the world, with many of the hard-to-find Mexican species, many older US hybrids, and the groundbreaking rain lily breeding work from Fadjar Marta of Indonesia.
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Zephyranthes has the common name rain lily for a good reason...it has the charming habit of sending up new blooms 3-4 days after a summer rain. Zephyranthes (rain lilies) are small perennial bulbs that need to be sited in the front of the border, or in a rock garden to be appreciated. When happy, some zephyranthes may produce seed but the offspring are not likely to look exactly like the parent. Consequently, if you have a strict color palette in the garden, you may want to remove the zephyranthes seed heads before they pop open. If you are ready to buy rain lilies for your garden, check our our list of zephyranthes for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
This cute rain lily is native or naturalized all over the Bahamas and is known by the locals as August grass. Yucca Do assigned it a cultivar name of Zephyranthes 'Abacos Apricot' because of its abundance on the Bahamas Abacos (outer) Islands. For us, Zephyranthes 'Abacos Apricot' makes a prolific offsetting clump with 8" tall flower spikes, topped with upright-facing orange red cups highlighted with a yellow center, from August through October. Each flower is open for two days and the flower color changes to light pink on the second day. Thanks to our friends at Yucca Do for sharing this gem. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Zephyranthes 'Ajax' is a delightful old rain lily hybrid, which is inexplicably hard to find in the commercial trade. This cross of Zephyranthes candida x Zephyranthes citrina makes a vigorous clump of fast multiplying bulbs, each producing round green leaves like its Zephyranthes candida parent. The clumps are topped after each rain, starting in midsummer, with 2" straw-yellow upfacing flowers. Each flower is open two days...yellow the first day and white the second. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This rapidly multiplying and floriferous rain lily is an E.L. Brasol hybrid, presumed to be a cross involving Zephyranthes candida and Zephyranthes citrina (actually Zephyranthes 'Ajax' probably backcrossed to Zephyranthes candida). After rain in summer and early fall, the 8" tall clumps are smothered with large creamy cups, highlighted by the yellow anthers. In our trials, Zephyranthes 'Aquarius' seems to be apomictic (comes true from seed). Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This attractive rain lily was shared with us by plantsman Alan Galloway, who purchased it at the Bangkok Thailand Market in 2003. Since that time, we have enjoyed the clumps in our garden, which produce 8" stems from July through September (after a rain) ending in narrow-petaled peachy flowers, highlighted with a yellow center. Winter temperatures down to 7 degrees F have not been a problem. We have been unable to track down its origin and an original name if it had one, so we have assigned the name Zephyranthes 'Bangkok Peach'. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
(aka: Zephyranthes FM #65) This new rain lily from Indonesia's Fadjar Marta produces 6" stalks topped, starting in early July, with 2.5" apricot-colored flowers, highlighted by a yellow center. Each petal of Zephyranthes 'Batik' is highlighted with a suffuse yellow stripe down the center...quite nice! When summer showers are plentiful, we get good rebloom all summer...rain not included. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
(aka; Z. 'Benidama') The Japanese rain lily hybrid Zephyranthes 'Beni Tama', which translates to "red jewel", shows that not all color-blind horticulturists live in the US. The small clumps of bright pink (not red), goblet-shaped flowers start for us in June and continue after rain showers throughout the summer. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Zephyranthes 'Big Dude' is one of our selections from the seed strain Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea'. We were looking for a selection with large flowers and a fast-multiplying habit, and this is the result. Each flower can reach an amazing 4" in width. The large, white petals are tipped with a faint blush of pink on the tips. This easy-to-grow rain lily is amazing when the entire clump bursts into flower after a rain. For us, flowering on Zephyranthes 'Big Dude' starts in early summer and continues until frost. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This wonderful, semi-evergreen rain lily just can't be beaten for an easy-to-grow garden performer. The round, narrow, dark green foliage makes a thick clump. Beginning in summer, 1" tall, pure white, star-like flowers with dramatic golden stamens (pollen holders) arise just above the foliage. Zephyranthes candida makes a great specimen clump, but when used in a mass or for a border, it is simply indescribable! Although quite durable, Zephyranthes candida performs best in a rich or very moist site. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Zephyranthes 'Crimson Sunset' is a 2011 release from the breeding work of Indonesia's Fadjar Marta. After rains, from midsummer through early fall, Zephyranthes 'Crimson Sunset' bursts forth with large peachy-pink flowers, highlighted by a yellow center and yellow veins that run out into the petals..simply scrumptious! Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
We discovered this huge flowering selection of Zephyranthes drummondii at 3,500' in the Sierra Chiquita mountains of Mexico in 1994. The flat, glaucous leaves produce huge, 2.5" wide diameter offsetting bulbs. For us, Zephyranthes drummondii 'Fedora' makes a 1' diameter clump, which begins flowering in late April to early May and reblooms well throughout late August as summer rains pass by. The large, 3", pure white, nocturnally-opening, fragrant flowers atop 8" stalks are simply superb. Our offerings are divisions from our original bulb. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Zephyranthes 'Eastern Pearl' is a 2010 Fadjar Marta introduction which is topped after summer rains with clusters of lovely 3" wide, peachy-pink flowers, highlighted with butter-yellow stripes down the center of each petal and a dark yellow eye...simply scrumptious! Quantities are very limited. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
(Often incorrectly listed as Zephyranthes rosea) This wonderful rain lily has 8" long, flat, glossy green foliage that quickly forms a nice 1' wide clump. All summer, the clump is topped with 12" tall stalks of giant, libido-awakening, 3" rose-pink flowers (RHS 75B). A clump can have up to 20 flowers open at once...absolutely spectacular. Zephyranthes grandiflora can be even more of a shocker when used in a mass planting...nothing demure or quaint here! Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This Yucca Do selection of the Mexican Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea' is a delightful little dwarf rain lily that is covered with white star-shaped flowers following rains, starting in midsummer, until frost. Zephyranthes 'Itsy Bitsy' is unique among rain lilies as well as being way cute! Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This apomictic (comes true from seed because it has meaningless sex) hybrid from the late bulb guru, Thad Howard, was created from a cross of Zephyranthes lindleyana and Zephyranthes 'Ruth Page'. The flowers of Zephyranthes 'Libra', which top the clumps starting in early July, are dark pink cups, held atop 8" stalks. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This splendid Yucca Do clonal selection comes from their original Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea' seed strain. Zephyranthes 'Lily Pies' makes a thick clump of glossy green, basal foliage topped, starting in midsummer, with a dramatic floral show after each rain shower. The 5" flower spikes are topped with wide overlapping petals that are pure white toward the center of the flower, morphing to dark pink at the tip of each petal. This is a superbly cute selection that you just can't live without. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Zephyranthes 'Magic Charm' (2011) is a unique, fascinating breakthrough from the work of Fadjar Marta. The peachy-pink petals are heavily veined, creating a fascinating flower. For us, Zephyranthes 'Magic Charm' flowers after each rain, starting in midsummer and ending in early fall. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
(syn: Zephyranthes commersoniana) This widespread South American species is rarely grown, probably because many reference books claim it is quite tender. This is another reason not to let your plants read books. Zephyranthes mesochloa has been fine in our trials since 2003. In habit, it resembles a dwarf Zephyranthes candida that flowers in midsummer. The short, rounded green leaves are topped with nice white, up-facing flowers with dark yellow centers. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This amazing 2010 Fadjar Marta release is a long-awaited improvement in bright yellow rain lilies. The aptly named Zephyranthes 'Midas Touch' is simply stunning with brilliant solid yellow flowers appearing after summer rains. Quantities are very limited. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
From our 1994 Mexican expedition, we planted two different rain lilies, Zephyranthes drummondii and Zephyranthes lindleyana, side by side. Since most rain lilies don't like each other enough to have sex, we figured we were safe. We figured wrong. I guess out here in the country even a rain lily gets lonely at night, and son-of-a-gun, do we have some babies. In effect, we recreated the species Zephyranthes morrisclintii. The offspring are remarkably similar to each other, with the flat foliage of Zephyranthes drummondii topped with a light pink, cup-shaped flower from Zephyranthes lindleyana. The flowering season starts in April, making it one of the earliest rain lilies to flower. We don't want to have the parents neutered, but to keep from doing so, I need to find good homes for the offspring. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Zephyranthes 'New Dimension' is an amazing 2010 Fadjar Marta introduction with peachy-pink petals surrounding a bright yellow throat. Even more unique than the color breakthrough, is that it usually has 1-2 extra petals over the typical 6-petaled flowers. Quantities are very limited. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
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