Each gardening season, after the first drenching rain in August or September, I’m always surprised to see the Oxblood Lily, Rhodophiala bifida, pop up in varying spots. An introduced plant, the Oxblood Lilies have naturalized in parts of Texas and are common dots of crimson in lawns and gardens here in Austin and other parts of Central Texas. Its stalks, or scapes, rise up from the Earth (overnight as best I can tell!), buds developing atop and flowers opening with a brilliant flourish within a day or so. I have groups of these delights and they will bloom, not all at once, but with a continuing presence, for a month or so. Foliage arrives after the blooms fade, elegant in form and rich in color, remaining green throughout the winter months.
A complementary and competing red beauty is the Red Spider Lily, Lycoris radiata. Not quite as prolific or common as the Oxbloods, these stunning blooms are head-turners just the same. A native of the Far East, Red Spider Lilies have been a traditional fall bulb in southern gardens for generations. Their petals are slightly ruffled and curl charmingly; spidery stamens reach out and up, well beyond the petals. The stalks upon which these red spider flowers rest grows to about twelve inches in height. Leaves of red spider lilies are slender gray-green with a stripe down the middle and the foliage clump provides a grassy accent during the winter months.
I say that I’m surprised when these lilies show up, but of course, I’m not, not really. I planted the bulbs and even in the most droughty of years, I always enjoy the sight of few Oxbloods and Spiders when they show up, popping with vibrancy. In wet years, the show is spectacular. That red!
What has surprised me this week is the appearance of this Hill Country Rain Lily, Cooperia pedunculata.
I’m fairly sure that this is the native rain lily, as I remember buying bulbs for my back garden at least 10 years ago. The lilies never did much; only a few blooms graced the garden and those were in the year after I planted the bulbs. After that, they were no-shows. My back garden was shady (still is in areas) and I’ve always assumed that’s why the lilies didn’t thrive. These lilies respond to rain, but they require full sun. In full sun places the lilies grow, bloom, and spread with abandon. Flourishing along roadsides, they create a white blanket in the days after rain, gently moving with breezes.
Parts of my back garden are now sunnier and at least one Rain Lily bulb is rewarding that newly found light by emerging and flowering after last week’s luscious rain.
Such a pretty thing! Creamy and simple, the lily has three petals and three sepals. A veil of yellow draws admirers to its center. The scape is fleshy like those of its lily cousins. I wonder if the original lily bulbs that I planted seeded out, as I don’t recall planting in the particular spot this lily has chosen. I’m not complaining, any lily is more than welcome, wherever it might turn up. I’ll let this specimen seed out and spread the seeds in other areas of my garden. As well, a trip to a local nursery to purchase some bulbs wouldn’t be amiss!
Not all surprises in the garden are welcome, but when lilies are the surprise, they are well worth waiting for.
My Gardener Says... 
Garden surprises are the best. My yellow rain lilies have decided to bloom.
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They really are and I love your yellow lilies–just gorgeous!!
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My white rain lilies have started to bloom also.
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Speaking of thinking alike, Facebook’s Texas Flora group, which you may want to check out if you’re not already a subscriber, had a post with an oxblood lily yesterday.
As you noted, what’s not to like about our rain lilies? While each individual one repays a close look, I keep hoping to see a dense colony of them again like the ones I used to occasionally find. The land that hosted a good one alongside the southbound Mopac exit at 45th St. got churned up by construction equipment some years ago. I keep hoping for it to recover. How dense have the ones in your yard gotten?
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I am a subscriber and I noticed that post about the oxblood lilies. I also noticed someone said that the scientific name had been change, though I couldn’t find any information about that.
I’ve never had more than 2 or 3 and right now, it’s just the one.
On Great Northern (parallels MoPac), at its southern end, there used to be a nice show of them on the west side, just across from the Little League field and Gullett Elementary. My children went there and Great Northern was part of my typical biking route. It’s not a huge group, but big enough to catch the eye and appreciate the beauty.
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From time to time in past years I photographed plants on the west side of Great Northern Blvd. where you indicated. It was one place I could count on finding bush sunflowers (Simsia calva). I also used to take pictures further north and further south along the west side of Great Northern. The construction of the sound wall along MoPac a few years ago messed things up, and I don’t often go there anymore.
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You can add me to the rain lily admirers! They were really prolific here after our rains. As a matter of fact, it was easy to discern where the heaviest rains had fallen in Galveston and Brazoria counties. In some areas, they were everywhere, and in others there wasn’t a single one. I did find a significant group of them at the Brazoria refuge, but they still were in bud on Sunday, and work interfered with going back to check them out a day or two later.
They’re one of my favorites. I’m so glad that one popped up for you, too!
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They really respond to rain, it’s so fun to anticipate when you know where a group of them reside. I was very happy to see this little one–gives me hope that I could have more!
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I live in Abilene and must admit I did not know these little lilies were not native? Have been here for only 2yrs but every time we get a rainy week or 2 they are prolific. We have 1.3 acres in town and our property is covered with them. I refuse to mow as long as they are in bloom. They are so delicate and elegant looking. ❤️ them.
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The white ones are native to the Hill Country, Linda. There are several varieties of rain lilies native to Texas and they’re all gorgeous. Good for you not mowing while they’re in bloom–the pollinators than you!
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Re rain lilies, sorry I was referring in my post to the white ones.
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They are beautiful and quite striking in the landscape!
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Beautiful flowers and I am not surprised that three of my blogging friends have featured them now that they are blooming.
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