Autumn Crocus - Jack Frost is coming.
In Western folklore, Jack Frost was a character who appeared in the icy and cold weather. That's why i say that Autumn Crocus ( Zephyranthes candida ) tells you the cold weather is on it's way, it flowers in Autumn. This little plant grows from a bulb, has thin shiny green leaves, and white flowers with yellow stamens in the centre. In a few years , the bulbs will multiply and form clumps, which can be divided to get more plants. Other varieties of Crocus come in many different colours. Another type of Crocus is used for flavouring and colouring food, it is Saffron, which is more expensive to purchase by weight than Gold.
Autumn Crocus is best planted in the Semi-shade areas of the garden, as it will burn off in the hot sun and won't look its best. It is not fussy about the soil where it grows, and it is known for flowering profusely after rain storms. The plants in this photo were taken locally here in the Galapagos Islands where i live :) ....Awww really , do i have to say it AGAIN ?
Another wonderful and interesting flower post by @ctrl-alt-nwo sir...
Zephyranthes candida, with common names that include autumn zephyrlily,white windflower and Peruvian swamp lily,is a species of rain lily native to South America including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental and reportedly naturalized in many places (South Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, central and southern China, Korea, Nansei-shoto (Ryukyu Islands), Bhutan, Solomon Islands, Queensland, Nauru, Tonga, Society Islands, Mariana Islands, southeastern United States (from Texas to North Carolina), the Lesser Antilles, and Peru).
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Scientific classification...
Leaves are a deep glossy green and measure 3 mm wide. Flowers, which bud late in August (when propagated in the Northern Hemisphere) at first resemble a new leaf, but emerge from their papery sheaves to a stunning whiteness; they are erect in perianth white and sometimes pinkish abaxially. The leaf-like bract is 1.8 to 4 cm. They grow best in full sun to part shade and require a medium wet soil. Propagation is done by dividing bulbs or offsets and from seed.
Zephyranthes candida was first described by John Lindley in 1823 as Amaryllis candida.It was transferred to its current genus in 1826 by William Herbert.Other common names of Zephyranthes candida include August rain lily, white zephyr lily, white fairy lily, white rain lily, and autumn zephyr lily.
@ctrl-alt-nwo sir...Thanks for sharing this amazing post....
Accurate description and pics featuring the correct plant, i'm impressed. You get the Fav comment award, well done!
Autumn Crocus
Zephyranthes candida
This tough little bulb flowers in profusion after rain – hence its sometime alias, the storm lily. It has shiny evergreen foliage and the flowers are white and open, like fragile crocuses. zephyranthes will grow in most regions in sun or semi-shade. Protect it from the hot sun in warm climates. It is not fussy about soil, even coping with poorly drained clay soils. It’s a little gem for containers (where a watering can may imitate rain, giving plenty of flowers) and it makes a delightful border in both formal and informal designs.
These 'storm lilies' (Zephyranthes candida, ht 15-25cm) come from Argentina and have grassy foliage and flowers rather like a crocus, and are easily grown in Sydney. In fact they are the only crocus-looking bulb most of us can grow, as generally Sydney's climate is too mild for real crocuses, which belong to the Iridaceae family of plants. Zephyranthes candida comes from the Amaryllidaceae family of bulbs, which on the whole do very well in our region.
They have papery white or (more rarely) pastel pink flowers, with thin evergreen foliage. They seem to come into bloom after rain has fallen, hence their common name, and several flushes of flowers can be expected if there a few periods of rain in late summer and autumn. They may even flower earlier in summer if there is a lot of rain. They form thick clumps and can survive in quite dry positions, such as at the base of a hedge, but will also cope with more moist positions. It is best if they dry out in late summer as the time approaches for their flowering period. They can be fertilised whenever you are doing the rest of your garden. They can be grown in a pot and do best with plenty of sun. Watch out for snails and slugs, which can wreck the flowers.
It goes by the various common names of zephyranthes, rain lily, autumn crocus or windflower. I had a friend who called it birthday flower as it always bloomed on her birthday. It has small, white, crocus-like flowers set amid a mass of dark green tubular leaves. It grows about 20cm high and flowers after rain (hence the name rain lily) in late summer and has flushes of flowers during autumn (which is why it is also known as autumn crocus).
It grows from a bulb or can be bought in pots at the nursery. Zephyranthes (which suggests the wind and the other common name of windflower) does best in a sunny spot in well-drained soil and can be grown as a border plant or in clumps to give interest to the garden in summer and autumn. It naturalises readily and, in parts of Queensland, it is even considered a bit of a weed.
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The common names that include autumn zephyr lily, white windflower, and Peruvian swamp lily, Rain/Fairy Lily. Crocus like white flowers summer.
The leaves are a deep glossy green and the flowers at first resemble a new leaf. This is a bulb with evergreen, rush-like foliage. They grow best in full sun to part shade and require a medium wet soil.
The propagation is done by dividing bulbs or offsets and from seed.
In the late summer and fall, white tubular flowers with six petals and yellow stamens
The name Zephyranthes means ‘flower of the west wind’. The flowers are symmetrical and point straight up. The related Habranthus genus , also widely grown, have similar flowers which hang to one side. Each flower generally lasts for one to two days.
Autumn crocus (botanical name Colchicum autumnale) is a perennial flowering herb belonging to genus Colchicum and grows up to a height of about a foot (30 cm). This herb bears deep green leaves whose shape resembles tulips. The leaves emerge from a corm - a plump, tuberous base. The flowers of autumn crocus are pale purple or white in color.
This tough little bulb flowers in profusion after rain – hence its sometime alias, the storm lily. It has shiny evergreen foliage and the flowers are white and open, like fragile crocuses.
Cultivation: zephyranthes will grow in most regions in sun or semi-shade. Protect it from the hot sun in warm climates. It is not fussy about soil, even coping with poorly drained clay soils. It’s a little gem for containers (where a watering can may imitate rain, giving plenty of flowers) and it makes a delightful border in both formal and informal designs.
The leaf tips can brown off in hot dry weather. Some people grow it as a border in place of mondo grass.
This plant has grass-like, narrow evergreen foliage and produces white flowers rather like a crocus which come into bloom after rain has fallen. Flowers appear from autumn through to end of summer. Looks great as a border, in front of tall plants, mass planted or scattered throughout the garden.
Thanks for reading @ctrl-alt-nwo
The Zephyranthes genus has about 70 species. Flowers of these species vary from pink to copper, yellow, cream and lavender.
Zephyranthes candida has flowers that resemble the temperate Crocus species.
To grow in the best conditions, they need a full sun to light shade,well-drained soil, water regularly for maximum bulb development, good fertile soil for optimal growth.
Zephryanthes candida flowers appear from Summer through to early Autumn, often following rain periods.
They grow best in full sun to part shade with protection from afternoon sun desirable.
The soil should be rich and free-draining but moisture retentive.
For preparing the site, dig over the soil and add a handful of rich compost or well-decayed animal manure. They need water regularly but do not overwater. Suitable for planting in drifts or as a border in gardens.