Zephyranthes drummondii aka Prairie Lily

Zephyranthes drummondii grows from bulbs and lives for years. It belongs to the amaryllis family. Its names include prairie lily and evening rain lily. Kew gives its home range as northwestern Florida to northeastern Mexico. North Carolina State describes it from American prairies and meadows. Bulbs below ground send up new growth and flowers. It grows at a medium rate. It sheds its leaves as the seasons change.

The leaves are narrow and flat, with a fine texture. They may look green, gray, or silver. A glaucous coat gives them a pale cast. Their edges are smooth, and they have no hairs. The leaves grow longer once the flowers have finished. Green flower stems rise straight up above the leaves. Each stem is round and hollow, with no leaves. The plant spreads through seeds and small bulbs called offsets.

The sweet-scented flowers open in the evening, often soon after rain. Blooms may show one or two days after rainfall. Each flower forms a tube and has six petals. The white petals turn pink as the flowers age. Each bloom lasts two to four days, then fades. North Carolina State gives May through September as the bloom season. Chicago Botanic Garden gives March through June. The two sources thus report different bloom seasons. Once blooms fade, the plant forms seed pods called capsules. Each has three lobes and holds many seeds.

Full sun brings the best blooms, but plants take light shade. North Carolina State lists clay, loam, and sandy soils as suitable. It lists neutral and alkaline soils, too. Soil must drain well and stay moist, but may dry at times. North Carolina State says to plant bulbs two inches deep. Both garden sources list USDA zones 7–10 for this plant. North Carolina State says it needs little care. Divide the bulbs or sow seeds to grow more plants.

This rain lily suits borders, beds, lawns, and meadows. It can form groups that spread and grow on their own. It also copes with mowing. Its evening blooms and scent suit gardens viewed at night. The scent suits gardens for the senses and spots near paths. Bees and butterflies visit, and Chicago reports that birds show interest. ASPCA lists this species as non-toxic to cats and dogs. That does not mean any part is safe to eat.