Rain-lilies: Cooperia, Habranthus, Zephyranthes, etc.2015

[Robert]

Fermi,

Great to see the "Rain Lilies".

I have a large selection coming on thanks to a generous forumist. I am hoping for flowering this coming season.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Robert,
these "rain-lilies" do live up to their name but it seems to me that they have fairly defined times for flowering. The habranthus tend to flower after a rain but only if it follows a period of hot summer weather. Zephyranthes candida and its hybrids tend to flower when it starts to get cooler but before it gets cold.
The Habranthus robustus seedling from 'Russell Manning' finally opened yesterday and was still looking good this morning. As seen earlier they also were in bloom in November,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Robert,
these "rain-lilies" do live up to their name but it seems to me that they have fairly defined times for flowering. The habranthus tend to flower after a rain but only if it follows a period of hot summer weather. Zephyranthes candida and its hybrids tend to flower when it starts to get cooler but before it gets cold.
The Habranthus robustus seedling from 'Russell Manning' finally opened yesterday and was still looking good this morning. As seen earlier they also were in bloom in November,
cheers
fermi

Fermi,

Thank you for the information. I grew Habranthus robustus in the garden for many years. They too would bloom after a period of hot summer weather. They would often surprise me, as the flowers seemed to come from nowhere. The rodents seemed to move them around but never ate them. This movement added to the element of surprise. Now they seem to have disappeared from the garden. Fortunately I have a new crop of seedlings coming on.