Zephyranthes drummondii
Drummond's rain lily
Attracts PollinatorsDeer ResistantDrought TolerantFragrant (moderate)Container Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Zephyranthes drummondii is a bulb-forming perennial in the amaryllis family, producing tufts of narrow, grayish-green, grasslike leaves 8-14 inches (20-35 cm) long from a deep-seated bulb. Solitary funnel-shaped flowers, 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) across and white often flushed pink as they age, open on stalks 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall. The flowers open in the evening, are fragrant, and appear in flushes a few days after rain from spring through fall, each flower lasting 1-3 days. The fruit is a three-parted capsule holding flat black seeds. It grows in prairies, open woodlands, and rocky ground across Texas and northern Mexico, on well-drained calcareous soils. The bulb is dormant in dry spells and resprouts after rain. All parts contain alkaloids and are toxic if eaten. Bloom is irregular and tied to rainfall rather than a fixed season, so flowering cannot be relied on for a set display.
Native Range
Zephyranthes drummondii is native to Texas and northern Mexico. It grows in prairies, open woodlands, and rocky calcareous ground.Suggested Uses
Used in rock gardens, prairie plantings, gravel beds, and the front of borders on well-drained soil. The evening flowers are fragrant and draw moths and bees. Plant bulbs 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) apart in groups for a fuller flush.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread4" - 6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, aging pinkFoliage Description
grayish-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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 in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil with a pH near 6.5-8.0. The bulb tolerates drought by going dormant in dry spells and resprouts after rain. Plant bulbs 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) deep in autumn or spring. Overly wet or poorly drained soil rots the bulb. No routine feeding is needed in average soil. Established clumps multiply slowly by offsets and self-sown seed.Pruning
Remove spent flower stalks if self-sowing is not wanted. Let the foliage die back naturally as the bulb enters dormancy. No other pruning is required.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summerfall
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons