Rain-lilies: Zephyranthes, Habranthus, Cooperii, etc 2023

[fermi de Sousa]

The first rain-lilies for the year have been forms of Habranthus tubispathus.
Here's the pink form today
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

This is a hybrid I raised by crossing 'Russell Manning' (which I think is a form of Habranthus robustus) and Habranthus martinezii which I call 'Redesdale Star'
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi,

Nice looking hybrid.

A few of my F1 Zephyranthes hybrids bloomed last year and I hope more will bloom this coming season. I have a limited gene pool to work with, however I think there is enough genetic variability where something interesting will show up in the F2 generations. This is still a few years down the road.

Anyway, thank you for sharing the photographs. I look forward to seeing some of your other species and hybrids as they come into bloom.

[fermi de Sousa]

Well, finally a few more rain-lilies! Presumably due to the 14mm of rain last week!
Firstly Habranthus martinezii
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Zephyranthes 'Grandjax' is a hybrid between 'Ajax' (Z. candida x Z. citrina) x Z. grandiflora
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

This is Habranthus robustus grown from NARGS Seedex seed a few years ago
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Rather than create a separate Thread for Rhodophiala, I thought I'd include them here.
This is a seedling of the orangey-red form of Rhodophiala bifida available in the trade (which I originally got from Hancocks' Daffodils in the 1980s!) - I always presumed that the parent was sterile or at least self sterile as I never got seed on them until it set a pod one year (and never since!). The parent has not flowered so far this year - I think because the clumps have become overshadowed so I'll have to do some trimming back of the surrounding shrubs!

cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

This is the "Ox Blood" form of Rhodophiala bifida which I got from a friend, Josie R, from the Leongatha Horticultural Society
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

This is the "colony" of Rhodophiala bifida I got by crossing the "trade form" and the "Ox blood" forms.
The first stems flowered in mid-March (pic 1) and now most are in full bloom with more stems arising each day
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

This is the pink form of Rhodophiala bifida which I raised from seed sent by Forumist Santiago,
cheers
fermi

[MarcR]

Fermi,

I grow Rhodophiala and Habranthus; but Zephyranthes does not do well for me.

I don't think the issue is hardiness. Do you have any suggestions?