Rain Lilies Are Great Outdoor Choices In The South

If you're not known for having a green thumb, outdoor landscaping can be a real issue. Finding just the right plants that will thrive on their own without a whole lot of care can be difficult. The rain lily is one plant that's ideal for the gardening challenged.



This plant looks pretty unassuming when it's not in bloom, but watch out when the flowers start to open. In the summer time and early fall after rains, the plant truly comes to life revealing a flower that's simply breathtaking. Even in its full white form, the rain lily is a delicate beauty that adds to the style of any garden.



This plant tends to like warmer climates in the southern United States, but is reported to grow well elsewhere in the country. It requires almost no care at all to keep growing. In fact, all that's really necessary is to make sure it's kept watered in periods with no rain and to keep the beds around it free from weeds and pests.



Considered a water-friendly plant, the rain lily doesn't really require a whole lot of additional water over and above what Mother Nature deals out either. It's a perennial and comes back on its own after the season. The only caution with it is to clearly understand where the lilies have been planted as the foliage can appear to be a bit weedy to those not in the know. To the trained (or more trained) eye, it looks like a decorative grassy plant, which makes it a nice addition any time.



If it's necessary, stake out a spot for the lilies so you won't mistake them for weeds when not in bloom. Keep the area well mulched and aerated to assist with draining and other than that just watch for bugs and remove weeds as they crop up. The beauty of this plant is the fact it does great all on its own.



When planting rain lilies, find a place to group them together. Put them where they'll get a lot of sun during most of the day and a bit of shade in the afternoon and they'll thrive. These tend to grow up to 12 inches in height and will, if left to their own devices, continue to grow year after year as new lilies sprout and take hold.



For a really colorful display, consider putting rain lilies in with other full sun flowering plants. When coupled with those plants with like watering and sunlight needs, these add a delicate splash of graceful white to the landscape.