Treat's zephyr lily is a delicate bulbous perennial native to the pine barrens and swamp margins of central and northern Florida and southern Georgia. This rare wildflower brings together graceful, grass-like foliage with upright, funnel-shaped white flowers sometimes blushed with pink that bloom from August through September. Growing 6 to 12 inches tall and spreading 12 to 24 inches, it thrives in Zones 7 to 10 and tolerates wet soil beautifully, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens and naturalized plantings where most garden flowers would struggle.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-10
12in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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The flowers emerge on 4 to 12 inch stems, displaying a pristine white funnel shape that occasionally shows a delicate pink blush. Standing just 6 to 12 inches tall with a moderate spread, this rain lily fits seamlessly into small gardens and containers while maintaining enough presence to make a visual statement. Its remarkable tolerance for wet and moist soils sets it apart from conventional garden bulbs, allowing it to thrive in conditions that would cause rot in other species.
This bulb serves as an excellent plant for naturalizing in open areas where moisture persists, creating drifts of delicate white flowers across a landscape. Rain gardens and rain-fed wetland areas become showcases for its blooms, while its moderate size makes it suitable for container cultivation as well. The linear, grass-like foliage remains ornamental throughout the growing season, and its showy August and September flowers provide late-season color when many other bulbs have faded.
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Plant bulbs in spring, spacing them 3 to 4 inches apart and 2 to 3 inches deep in evenly moist, peaty or sandy, well-draining soil in full sun. In colder portions of Zone 7, provide winter mulch protection.
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“Zephyranthes treatiae takes its species name from its discoverer, Treat, and belongs to a genus whose name originates from the Greek words zephyros (west wind) and anthos (flower), acknowledging its New World origins. Native to open, moist inland areas of the southeastern United States, this species has become increasingly rare in portions of its natural habitat, making it a plant worthy of cultivation in gardens. The genus has long captured gardeners' interest for its reliable, cheerful blooms that often appear after significant rainfall, earning these plants their common name of rain lilies and securing them a place in the hearts of gardeners seeking native wildflowers.”