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| Rainlily
List 2004 The following collection of Rainlilies has
come via seed exchanges with other collectors from around the world. All care
has been taken to provide true to name material by others, and myself. All
species listed are at least two years old and are at, or near, flowering size.
Further information about any species on this list is available upon request.
My complete collection of Rainlilies is also available for those collectors
interested in a larger range of species and forms. Please contact me for
further details. This year I have gone to a standard price
for all Rainlilies, and as some species multiply so rapidly, you will
definitely be getting extra bulbs with these! When you buy one bulb, of most of
the Rainlilies available on this list, I will send you at least 2-3 bulbs (for
the price of one). This will not happen with all the species, but for the
majority of them there will be extras. For those wanting to try Rainlilies for
the first time, we also have some mixed Rainlily specials at the bottom of the
list. This will give you are good range of plants at a modest price. Enjoy! Habranthus The genus Habranthus was
named in 1824, and has recently been revised by Pierfelice Ravenna and others,
and the amount of species has nearly doubled. Predominately this genus comes
from South America but species are also found in Mexico and Texas. Habranthus
species have trumpet shaped flowers that are usually hysteranthous (appearing
before the leaves), and generally are turned downward, although some species
can have erect flowers. Each flower spike can have one to three flowers and the
colour varies from white to pink, orange, yellow, red and blue (ok – pinkish
blue!) and some species have dark wine coloured throats. Habranthus can be
identified from Zephyranthes mainly by their nodding flowers, but also from the
stamens (the pollen bearing parts of the flower), which are unequal, and in
four lengths. Cultivation is fairly easy
for many Habranthus species, with their only real needs being good drainage and
a moderately rich and moisture retentive soil. Water all year suits them as
many produce much of their growth over the Autumn/Winter/Spring period. Some
species go dormant in Summer but generally they tend to be evergreen or they
only have a semi-dormancy before flowering. Keep in mind that each species is
individual, so it helps to know a little about their own specific requirements
before you know exactly how to treat them. All species listed below will
happily grow with water all year round, and a sunny location, both in the
garden and in pots. Larger pots are recommended for growing Habranthus, as the
extra room to allow for the roots to develop is very beneficial for good strong
growth.
Zephyranthes The genus Zephyranthes has around 60 species
from the southeastern United States, Texas, Mexico, the West Indies and South
America. Commonly known as Rainlilies, they resemble Crocus in appearance and
flower well in the warmer months. Flowering seems to be triggered by rain, and
good flowering generally occurs after rainfall, but many species will flower
with just a change in barometric pressure. A mass planting of Rainlilies is a
stunning sight, especially in the heat of Summer, and a good flowering display
can be achieved all season long. This is a wonderful group of plants to
brighten up a usually dry, and barren time of year. Cultivation is similar to Habranthus,
although the Zephyranthes tend to be dormant in Winter, and would prefer dryer
conditions then. They will tolerate wet conditions in the colder months as long
as drainage is good. In garden conditions they thrive, and enjoy a good sunny
location and regular moisture when in growth. Many species (and particularly
hybrids) can be coaxed to produce more flowers by drying them out between
watering, taking care not to dry them out completely. Their up-turned flowers, with stamens that
are in equal lengths, can identify Zephyranthes species. Zephyranthes tend to be
rounder in their flower structure, and more look like a Crocus, whereas
Habranthus more resemble a Hippeastrum in flower. The genus Cooperia has now
disappeared, and all species have been reclassified as Zephyranthes. Not
everyone agrees with this idea but I have followed it with the naming of plants
from this list, and synonyms (syn.), or past names, have been included for ease
of identification. The “Cooperia” group of plants differs from Zephyranthes in
their flowers with long floral tubes that generally open in the afternoon and
evening, and many are heavily scented. Bulbs tend to survive in dried
conditions than most Zephyranthes. All species on this list are of easy culture
in both pots and the garden.
Special Offer - Mixed Rainlilies
3 for $12.00 10 for $30.00 20 for $50.00 Habranthus species & hybrids – Mixed
colors – pink, white, orange/red and yellow Zephyranthes species & hybrids – Mixed colors - yellow, white and pink Payment
Options: When ordering from
this list, you have the option to pay by cash, Cheque or money order (please
make payments out to “D. Wallace”). EFTPOS facilities are no longer available
via mail or over the phone, but you can now pay with your credit card online,
with Paymate. All transactions are
very safe and secure as Paymate uses Verisign
for all its online business. You do not need to be a Member of Paymate to pay
with your credit card, but if you do join (there is no joining fee) you are
also able to pay for your order directly from your bank account. Overseas
customers can also use Paymate to purchase their bulbs, as Paymate accepts
payments from a number of overseas countries, in both US Dollars and Australian
Dollars. Additional
Charges: International
- All overseas orders are charged in Australian Dollars, and postage is set
at 20% of your total order, with a minimum charge of $10 to cover postage
costs. Some overseas countries will require a phytosanitary certificate for
bulbs to be allowed into your country. This means that the bulbs need to be
certified weed, disease, soil and pest free. My local AQIS (Australian Quarantine Inspection
Service) office can provide a phytosanitary certificate for the cost of
AUS$77.00. Customers from the USA may also need to apply for an import permit
from APHIS (your quarantine people)
and this will need to be sent to me before your order can be posted out. Please
check out the requirements for importing bulb material into your country before
placing an order, this will save any delay when processing your order and will
guarantee your bulbs will arrive without any problems. Happy Gardening!
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