Cooperia - Prairie Lily, Rain Lily

(Coope'ria)

DESCRIPTION: These tender bulbs have slender, flat and twisted foliage. They produce fragrant, starry, waxy flowers, about 2 inches in diameter, which are white, with red staining the outside and a greenish hue within. These bloom in the evening during the summer. They are found wild in New Mexico, Mexico and Texas. They'll grow about 12 inches high.

POTTING: These plants are grown in pots in a cool, sunny greenhouse or in well-drained soil outside. When the bulbs are planted in pots, they're potted in February and watered carefully until they begin growing. They are then watered often, until the end of summer, when less water is given. When all the foliage has died, the soil is kept dry until spring. They require a minimum winter temperature of 40-45 degrees. When grown outside, the bulbs are planted 2 inches deep in a well-drained bed of sandy soil in the spring. The need a sheltered, sunny spot. In cold climates, they should be lifted and stored in the fall.

PROPAGATION: The offsets or small bulbs may be detached and potted when Cooperia are started into growth in the spring.

VARIETIES: C. Drummondii; C. pedunculata.

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