PlantFiles: Giant Rain Lily, Rainlily, Prairie Lily, Hill Country Rain Lily
Zephyranthes drummondii

It is correctly known as Cooperia drummondii, and not formerly known as Cooperia drummondii; because Cooperia species' are nocturnally blooming and Zephyranthes species' blooms open in the morning to mid-day. My source is Thad M. Howard who is thought of as the leading authority on native Texas bulbs and who has discovered and identified over 35 species native to Texas, Mexico, and South America.

These are so pretty! They are blooming like crazy around here! I wasnt sure what they were, so I got on here and searched around. I KNEW I would find it! I had told my hubby that I thought they were some type of Lily! Turns out I was right! Too cool! How can I get some for my yard or a container?? They are growing wild down here.

What a lovely find growin on our land.

Giant rain lily is a Texas (mainly Central Texas, Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains), Mexico and Louisiana native rain lily that is found in clayey or sandy soils. Giant rain lily usually reaches twelve inches in height. The leaves are slender, smooth and grass-like. It produces blooms most heavily in March and April, but can bloom sporadically through September. The white and sometimes tinged with pink on the outer surface blooms are large for a rain lily and are between 2 and 3 inches. They persist for several days. The petals and sepals are indistinguishable from each other and, together, they are called tepals. Giant rain lily has a floral tube that is one to one and a half inches long, This tube distinguishes it from Cebolleta (Cooperia drummondii) which has a longer floral tube. Also, Cebolleta blooms in late summer through fall. Rainlily is poisonous to wildlife and livestock. It can cause crusting and cracking of light colored skin, sunburn and and eyes may turn cloudy. It can cause blindness in deer and black cattle. This plant would make an excellent cultivated plant in beds, lawns, rock gardens, xeriscapes and in containers.

Formerly named Cooperia drummondii, Drummond's rain lily is, also known as evening rain lily, Cebolleta, evening-star rain-lily, drummond rain-lily and is a native wildflower in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas (usually central and western Texas with the most concentration throughout the Trans-Pecos region). It can be found growing in clay, clay loam, medium loam, sandy loam, sandy, limestone-based, and caliche type soils.

It usually grows to a height of about 12 inches, but can reach 18 inches. The tubular, white (sometimes tinged with pink on the outer surface) flowers are borne on single floral tubes which are three to seven inches long. It is dormant most of the time. It can bloom in June, but usually blooms in late summer through September or October typically after a rain. The evening rain lily, like most night bloomers, is lightly fragrant.It can be propagated by seed or division. Plant seeds in the fall and transplant divisions almost anytime. The seeds are eaten by bobwhite quail. Cooperia pedunculata (giant rain lily) is similar in appearance: however, it has larger flowers, blooms in the spring and has shorter floral tubes.

Adapting to areas that are dry or have average rainfall, it would be a great addition to a cultivated landscape in beds or lawns, rock gardens and xeriscapes as well as in containers.

Elizabeth Lawrence, in "A Southern Garden", wrote of the prairie lily, Cooperia pedunculata, now called Zephyranthes drummondii, "They are dead white, crystalline, and very thick petaled, and they fill the night with a strange, disturbing sweetness. To me, one of the chief delights of gardening in the South is the perfumed darkness of midsummer nights."

This plant sends up one large, white fragrant bloom per stem that turns pinkish as it matures. Foliage is broad and grass-like with blue-green leaves. It blooms from April to May. Good drainage is required.

This flower bulb sends up a solitary flower that opens straight up or at a slight angle, blooming within a few days of summer thunderstorms. It is fairly tender to severe winter conditions. Bulbs should be planted at a depth where the "neck" is just under the soil line. Plant 2" apart. Bone meal can be added at planting time to encourage growth.

This plant is available commercially, though the white Zephs. are difficult to distinguish sometimes, as they look very much alike. There seems to be bloom time difference that are the most distinguishing trait from bulbs from different sources. The plant I grow with this name is fragrant, very fertile and makes a good show as a pot plant. In color it is perhaps slightly ivory as compared to say Z. candida.