Pink Rain Lily
Zephyranthes rosea Photograph June 22. Moore Farms, Lake City, South Carolina.
Pink Rain Lily adds cheerfulness and surprise to any summer border. They are inexpensive and easy to plant in mass and so small you can pop them in between stepping stones or even in a corner of a patio where duff tends to collect. Flowering Time: Depends on rain and planting time. Usually, they’ll flower about 3 weeks after you plant. Foliage: The glossy green leaves blend into other small perennials, looking especially great with grasses. Growth Rate: Fast enough to be used as an annual. Ultimate Height: 8 inches
Special Care: Plant in dry spots, away from regular irrigation. These little bulbs don’t live forever or seed in, so you need to replenish them every other year or so. They prefer sun to light shade. Bees love them. Gardening Tips: Simply pop these in among other small perennials. They’ll tolerate being planted in grit or pebbles. You can even plant them in a gravel walkway. Suggested Combinations: I love them with little phlox or sweet william. With truly tiny plants, Pratia or Dichondra, they seem big. Stick them in the edges of containers to add color while you wait for caladiums or slower plants to emerge. I often stick a few in when I plant a crinum to give instant gratification and to compliment the slow reveal.