Zephyranthes, Genus, chlorosolen, Species,
- Genus & species
Brazos rain-lily
South-central United States and Mexico
Overview
Zephyranthes chlorosolen is a small bulbous perennial in the amaryllis family, native to prairies and open ground of Texas, neighboring states, and northeastern Mexico. Each bulb produces a tuft of narrow, grass-like leaves 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long that may be present or withered depending on rainfall. After summer and fall rains it sends up slender stalks 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall, each topped by a single white flower with a long, slender floral tube 3-5 inches (7.5-13 cm) long that flares into six pointed segments about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across. The flowers open in the evening, are fragrant, and fade to pale pink before closing within a day or two. Bloom comes in flushes a few days after rain rather than on a fixed schedule. The bulb stays dormant through dry spells and cold winters. Like other members of its family, the bulb and foliage contain alkaloids that are toxic if eaten. It naturalizes in lawns and meadows on a range of soils but flowers only briefly and unpredictably.
Native Range
Native to the south-central United States and northeastern Mexico, mainly Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and adjacent areas, in prairies, grasslands, fields, and open disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Used in rock gardens, dry borders, and for naturalizing in lawns and meadows where summer rain triggers bloom. The evening, fragrant flowers draw night-flying moths. The small bulbs also grow well in containers and gravel gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread3" - 6"
Bloom Information
Flowering is erratic, triggered by rain from June through October. A few days after a soaking rain, batches of white, fragrant flowers open in the evening and last a day or two. Between rains the plant produces no flowers, so bloom comes in short, scattered flushes.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white aging to pale pinkFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade on well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils and tolerates both drought and seasonal wet. The bulb is drought-adapted and rests through dry and cold periods, needing no summer water to survive. A soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5 suits it. Propagation is by bulb offsets or by seed, which can flower in two to three years. The bulb and leaves contain alkaloids that are poisonous if eaten by people or pets. Pests and diseases are seldom a problem in open, well-drained ground.Pruning
Spent flower stalks can be removed once the bloom fades. The grass-like leaves are left to die back naturally, which refuels the bulb for the next season. No other pruning is needed.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
