With those thunderstorms of
early June the Pink Rain Lilies seam to pop out of nowhere.
Habranthus
robustus formally
known as Zephyranthes robusta,
is a relative of our native Zaphyranthes
atamasco. They are commonly called
Pink Rain Lilies or Pink Fairy Lilies. These small bulbs are native of Brazil
and are not as cold hardy as our native lilies but they do live as for north as
Virginia. They often pop up and bloom after the first summer thunder storm. The
light green foliage looks like wide blades of grass and comes up in the spring
before the flowers bloom. Rain Lilies are easy to propagate from seeds and
dividing clusters of bulbs. Collect seed pods when they turn yellow and then
scatter seeds where you want them. They can be planted with other bulbs like
small daffodils Tete a Tete, or February Gold, or other rain lilies- Zypheranthes candida (white rain lily), Zypheranthes citrine (yellow rain lily)