Giant Prairie Lily

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If you have ever driven a Texas back road a day or two after a good summer rain and spotted a sprinkling of tall white blooms across a pasture, you may well have met the giant prairie lily (Zephyranthes drummondii). These are native rain lily bulbs dubbed by late 19th century Texas nurserymen as the giant prairie lily. Extremely tough and durable bulbs, they thrive in native prairie settings across Texas. They have not been largely introduced on a commercial scale because the bulbs perform poorly in a modern day, highly prepared and highly irrigated home garden. Give them a lean, sunny spot and leave them be, and once established in the garden you will soon have an overabundance.

Blooms: Upward-facing, six-petaled white flowers, about 1-3 inches across, rise on stems roughly 8-12 inches tall. The blooms open in the evening, carry a light sweet fragrance, and slowly blush to a soft pink as they age over a couple of days. These rain lilies bloom spring through summer depending on late spring and summer rains, often popping up just a day or two after a good soaking. Dry bulbs may take an extra year to bloom.

Planting: Plant the bulbs in full sun (they will tolerate a little light shade but bloom best with plenty of sun) in well-drained soil. They are not picky about soil type and grow well in sand, loam, clay, limestone and even caliche, as long as water does not stand around them. Plant the bulbs about 2 inches deep and 3-6 inches apart, in groups for the best show. They can be planted any time the ground is workable, spring through fall. Water them in after planting; after that, they need very little extra water and are hardy in about zones 7-10.

Landscaping Tip: These are at home in a native or prairie planting, along a fence line, in a rock garden, or anywhere you can let them naturalize without heavy watering and fertilizing. Plant them where you can walk by in the evening and catch the fragrance.