rainwater lily , often overlooked but leisurely to produce , are showy , trouble - free and cheap enough to corrupt by the wads - in short , the rain lily is wanton to love .
Zephyranthes sp . or rain lily , as they are more commonly known because of their tendency to burst into bloom after a rain , are a pleasure . A ball - forming perennial , they start low but when leave undisturbed three years or more they broadcast , offering up a flashy display in an otherwise drab summertime garden .
snowy pelting lilies are the most common , but they are readily available in other colors including pallid pink , flushed pink , and yellow . Some ‘ expert ’ composition that rainfall lilies are dauntless in zone 8a-10b ; others , mostly growers assert than they are hardy through zone 6 .
Given that there microclimates that exist here and there across the humankind , that might explain the more the difference .
Rain Lilies are not expensive , so I planted a few here in zone 6b-7a now , and they came up in the spring just fine . I suggest that others sample the same thing before they establish ALL their rainfall lilies and leave them in the ground over the winter .
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Landscaping with Rain Lilies
pelting lilies can be incorporated into your landscape in so many ways : they make a tremendous edging at least in part because they look a lot like scalawag grass , and when naturalise they are a glossy visual sense .
They are beautiful as specimen plant , blend into interracial recurrent seam , or grown in container , herbaceous plant garden , or borders . Or you may but push these little bulbs into the terra firma here and there ; then blank out them .
One day early next summer you ’ll look out across your garden and there they ’ll be , bloom as if fairies had besprinkle them there ; that is why many people call them fairy bulbs .
rainfall lily are rather modest — about 6 ” to 8 ” marvellous ; some will grow as tall as 12”—so it is true that gardeners with limited growing space would do well to embed them . really , gardeners with lowly or large planting areas likewise will roll in the hay these endearing footling lily .
rainfall lilies are at their good being plant amidst established plants , occupy in bare dapple here and there .
Their ‘ blossom linebacker blitzing ’ are another of their most charming features , alone enough to assure their growing popularity . And their coloured headliner - like blossom will be especially welcome in late summer when other flowers are fade . For all this , they require little in return key .
Even for the gardener whose planting area have no bare spots a couple dozen rain lily bulbs planted amidst a lackluster groundcover will make your garden ’ pop ’ . Whether filling stripped spots or spruce up up existing plantings , they ’ll help a good garden face perceptibly well with almost no effort on your part .
Spectacular effect can be achieve when rainwater lilies are used in aggregate plantings . Naturalizing rainwater lilies will be more potential to succeed when using those varieties that have the great electric potential for dusty validity in your country . Remember that these small lily will not live on in soggy ground whether naturalise or not .
Caring for Rain Lilies
Plant the bulb at once upon reception since they begrudge being out of the ground for long periods . They do well when planted in raised beds or compost - enriched former borders . After planting , water them liberally ; root and top growth develop when they have the right amount of available fondness and moisture . rainfall lilies thrive on regular summertime tearing but invalidate over - irrigate them .
Rain lily do well when they are in unmediated sunlight at least part of the mean solar day , so long as it ’s not during the hottest minute . tip the pelting lily light bulb with an annual addition of compost or a blend of compost and mulch during the farm season .
When they are in bloom , rain lilies can be dilute for modest bouquets ; it wo n’t hurt the works . Otherwise you may need to enjoy them where they are . It ’s crucial that you not edit off their leafage after they flower until they are yellow — the sunshine provides nourishment to their bulbs for next year ’s growth and efflorescence .
In very cold areas , rain lilies may go inactive over winter , but in most areas they are evergreen .
In cold surface area , to keep your rain lilies for next year , carefully dig the bulbs after the first Robert Frost , let them air dry , then stash away them in a cool location in paper bags taking care to leave the clumps of bulb together . This will lessen the effect of their having been murder from the ground . Besides the bulbs need to rest for a few months before beginning the next grow rhythm anyway .
Propagating Rain Lilies
These electric light choose to be go forth alone — a feature that is handy for the nurseryman ! You will be rewarded with dramatic outcome when you allow large clumps to develop . If you want to fraction them , do it in the fall right after flowering , when the plants get to go hibernating .
For gardeners in the cooler zone , where it is necessary to labor up the rainfall lilies bulbs and winter them over out of the background , extension is much light . Carefully breaking apart the two or three class old thump of bulbs will double or triple the number of bulbs you will have to plant next twelvemonth and the delight you will get in return for your effort .
