Plant once, enjoy for years! This desert-hardy bulb thrives in Xeriscapes!
It may seem rather strange to think of landscapes decorated with lilies in fall, but summer and fall rain bring on the lovely blooms of rain lilies (Zephyranthes species).
Rain or ‘zephyr’ lilies add beauty to gardens throughout the Southern half of the U.S., including the Southwest. While their appearance may make you think they are delicate and need coddling, nothing could be further from the truth.
Like other lilies, rain lilies grow from bulbs typically planted in fall, though they’re often sold in containers at nurseries. They’re also surprisingly drought-tolerant.
My favorite variety is the white species (Zephyranthes candida), which has evergreen foliage. You’ll also find other species and hybrids in pretty shades of pink, peach, and yellow.
Despite their delicate look, rain lilies are easy to grow and deserve a bigger role in the landscape. They add soft, graceful beauty wherever they’re planted – whether in garden beds, containers, or planters.
During dry spells, their foliage may die back, but don’t worry, they’ll quickly rebound after a good rain!
Did you know that up to 70 percent of water use is outdoors? That’s why we love desert plants and feature them each month. It’s not too late for fall planting in your landscape, and you can learn more about rain lily and many other plants by visiting our Arizona Low-Water-Use Plants page. Visit our page on Choosing and Planting Low Water-Use Plants for tips on plant selection and how to plant properly.
Also, be sure to read through all of our featured Plant of the Month blogs!
Water – Use It Wisely is proud to feature guest bloggers who write about topics related to water and water conservation. The author of this blog, Noelle Johnson, is an urban horticulturist, Certified Arborist and freelance garden-writer who helps people create beautiful, low-maintenance gardens through helpful advice on her blog www.azplantlady.com. She is passionate about teaching people about the amazing desert plants that thrive in our landscapes. She recently authored two book, Dry Climate Gardening: Growing Beautiful, Sustainable Gardens in Low Water Conditions and The Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today’s Climate… and Tomorrow’s. Learn about both books on her website.