Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
White Rain Lily
White Rain Lily is a small bulb that grows into a tidy clump of narrow, glossy, dark green leaves about a foot tall. From midsummer into early fall it covers itself in white, crocus-like flowers, often popping up right after a monsoon rain. It fits the front of a shady bed, a walkway edge or a patio pot, and it can carpet the ground under trees. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade, and it comes back every year with very little care.
Best for: edging shady beds and walkways, ground cover under trees, patio pots and entryways, and late summer color after the monsoon.
It forms a clump of narrow, glossy leaves about 6 to 12 inches tall. Set bulbs 6 to 12 inches apart along a walkway or the front of a bed for a clean green edge that flowers white in late summer.
It grows well in shade and can be used as a ground cover. Plant a drift under a tree or on the shaded side of the house, where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
It grows well in pots, planters and entry beds. A pot near the door lets you catch the flowers that open after a summer storm.
Hot afternoon sun from the west burns the leaves, and the plant can dry back in heat and drought. Keep up summer water, and the bulbs leaf out again as it cools off.
- Clump or drift planting6 in apart
- Edging along a walk or bed12 in apart
Water about every 2 weeks in summer, when it grows and blooms. In winter, rely mostly on rain.
If the leaves dry up in the heat, the bulbs are still alive. Keep watering and new leaves grow once the weather cools off.
Snip off old flowers after they fade. Every few years, dig and divide crowded clumps and replant the bulbs.
Spider mites are the main pest to check for. Otherwise it has no serious pest or disease problems.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
When do white rain lilies bloom?
They bloom from midsummer into early fall. Flowers open in response to rain and humidity, so expect the biggest show after a good monsoon storm.
Why is it called a rain lily?
The flowers open in response to rain and changes in humidity. They pop up quickly after a heavy summer storm, which is how the plant got its name.
How big does white rain lily get?
It forms a clump about 6 to 12 inches tall and wide, with flowers about 2 to 3 inches across. Clumps spread slowly as the bulbs multiply.
Does it need sun or shade in Phoenix?
Give it morning sun and afternoon shade. It takes full sun only in a well watered spot, and hot west sun in the afternoon burns the leaves.
How often should I water rain lilies?
Water about every 2 weeks in summer, and let winter rain do most of the work the rest of the year. It handles short dry spells, but it flowers best with summer moisture.
My rain lily dried up in the summer. Is it dead?
Most likely it is fine. The leaves can dry back in heat or drought, and the bulbs grow new leaves once water is applied or the weather cools off. Keep watering and give it time.
How cold can white rain lily take?
It is hardy to about 0°F, so Valley winters do not hurt it. The leaves often stay green through a mild winter.
How far apart should I plant rain lilies?
Plant about 6 to 12 inches apart, center to center. Go closer for a full drift and wider for a row along a walk.
Can I grow rain lilies in a pot?
Yes. They do well in containers and planters, so a pot by the door works. Keep watering it through the summer, when it grows and blooms.
How do I care for rain lilies?
It needs very little care. Snip off the old flowers after they fade, and divide clumps every few years when they get crowded.
What pests bother rain lilies?
Spider mites are the one pest to watch for. Otherwise it has no serious pest or disease problems.
What is the difference between white and pink rain lily?
They are two separate species of rain lily. White rain lily has white flowers about 2 to 3 inches wide on a neat clump, while pink rain lily has larger rose pink flowers.
White Rain Lily for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
White Rain Lily is a small bulb with glossy grass-like leaves and white flowers that open after summer rains. It is easy to grow in a shady Valley bed or a pot. Below is what to expect: size, sun, water, bloom time, spacing and how to divide it.
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White rain lily in Phoenix yards
White rain lily is a small bulb with glossy, grass-like leaves and white flowers. It blooms from midsummer into early fall, often right after a monsoon rain.
When do rain lilies bloom in Arizona?
They bloom from midsummer into early fall, in response to rain and humidity. The flowers pop up quickly after a heavy summer storm.
Do rain lilies need shade in Phoenix?
They do best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Hot western sun in the afternoon burns the leaves.
How often do you water rain lilies?
Water about once a week in summer, and let winter rain carry it the rest of the year. If the leaves dry back, the bulbs grow back with water or cooler weather.
How far apart do you plant rain lilies?
Plant about 6 to 12 inches apart, center to center. The clumps fill in slowly as the bulbs multiply.
Can you grow rain lilies in pots?
Yes. They grow well in containers, planters and entry beds. Keep pots watered through the summer, when they grow and bloom.
White rain lily vs pink rain lily
White rain lily is Zephyranthes candida, with white flowers about 2 to 3 inches wide. Pink rain lily is a separate species with larger rose pink flowers.
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