Habaranthus is a genus of summer-blooming bulbs, commonly referred to as rain lilies in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidoideae). They are native to Central and South America. Many are tender bulbs and do not survive below 50 degrees, but a few are deciduous and can survive to zone 7. Rain lilies should be planted 6 inches apart at a depth of 3 inches, with the tops of the bulbs at the soil level, in well-drained soil in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Keep the soil moist to promote blooming. Large clumps of bulbs need to be divided every few years. They also start easily from seed. They range in size from 6 inches to 1.5 feet tall and 5 inches to 1 foot wide. The flowers face upward at an angle and are trumpet to tubular-shaped with 4 different lengths of stamens in shades of pink, white and yellow. They may bloom several times during the season depending on moisture conditions. Leaves are usually linear or strap-shaped. Use rain lilies in drought-tolerant gardens, rain gardens, in groups and borders or in containers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for snails and slugs, narcissus bulb fly and spider mitesly Diseases includr root rot and red blotch.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 5 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Sheath
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Linear to strap-shaped leaves may or may not be present during flowering, depending on the species and the rainfall.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Funnel; Trumpet; Tubular
Flower detail
They are funnel-shaped flowers and are either solitary or in umbels of up to 4 flowers. They grow pointing upward at an angle and have stamens of unequal size. They can bloom several times during the season.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Swollen green seed pods have three chambers. They mature to brown and split open to release many flat, winged, black seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Strong green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
native to tropical and semi-tropical regions of the Americas