Yesterday, I was shocked to discover my first pink rain lily of the season! The garden is ever-changing. Every day I discover something new, and this is what makes growing plants such a rewarding experience. I urge you to look closely at all the changes happening around you!
For context, I don't usually see pink rain lilies this early in the season. They tend to be more of a late-May-June and beyond kind of flower. Yet, this is the first year I've grown Zephyranthes 'Viva Las Vegas'- a Plant Delights Nursery hybrid. While I don't particularly like the name- Tony tends to name plants unnecessarily flashy or "clever" names- which is just not my style. A much better name is simply 'Viva'- which I'll call it from now on...
One of the parents is Zephyranthes drummondii 'Fedora', a white nocturnally blooming species that can bloom as early as April. The other parent is an intensely pink cultivar called Zephyranthes 'Smokin' Hot' of which I can find no information. This cultivar seems to retain the early blooming nature of 'Fedora' with the intense color of 'Smoking Hot'- another disappointing name...
As with almost all readily available rain lilies, 'Viva' prefers moist soils and full sun. I do have similar hybrids in partial shade, and while they do bloom, they never make the profuse displays of those in full sun.
If you are like me and want to spread these all throughout the yard and amongst your friends, they are a great plant for division. Given plenty of moisture and sun, these will multiply into prolific clumps that can be easily divided at any time of the year. Don't get bogged down in doing things the "correct" way, I divide my bulbs any time of the year rarely with any casualties.
These are small plants (to around 6 inches tall). Thus, when considering where to plant these, I'd suggest either in containers or along the edges of a path. They easily get lost among my other garden plants.