Plant Rhizome

Rain lily

Zephyranthes

A bulb. A short stem (the basal plate) wrapped in fleshy scales that hold the food store, with the next flower folded inside.

Whole
Cut open
StoreBulb. Cut it in half: you see layers like an onion.
Depth5 cm to the base of the bulb
Spacing8-10 cm apart
WhenTender: start indoors, plant out after frost. Start indoors: 6 weeks to 3 weeks before your last spring frost. Plant out: from your last spring frost to 2 weeks after. Work out your dates.
PetsNot on the ASPCA list: treat as unsafe to chew

About Rain lily

Crocus-like flowers that follow rain. Tender.

Depth and spacing

Typical range: 5 cm deep and 8-10 cm apart. A general rule is to plant at two to three times the height of the bulb; check the label for your variety. The drawing is to scale for 5 cm deep and 9 cm apart (the size of the organ is illustrative); try your own measurements.

0 cm2 cm4 cm6 cm8 cm10 cm12 cm14 cm16 cm18 cm9 cm apart5 cm

When to plant

Tender: start indoors, plant out after frost. Start indoors: 6 weeks to 3 weeks before your last spring frost. Plant out: from your last spring frost to 2 weeks after. These are rules of thumb for the northern hemisphere. Enter your frost dates for real dates.

Dividing and propagating

Separate offsets in spring.

Lifting and storing

Lift or grow in pots and keep frost-free.

Not on the ASPCA list

The ASPCA plant list has no entry we could match to this plant, so we cannot say it is safe. Keep pets from chewing it and digging up the bulb, and ask your vet if in doubt. Search the ASPCA list.

More bulbs