Rio Grande copperlily

Description

Zephyranthes tubispatha, synonym Habranthus tubispathus, the Rio Grande copperlily or Barbados snowdrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is a perennial bulb native to southern South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay). It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and reportedly naturalized in the southeastern United States (Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida), much of the West Indies as well as Bermuda, eastern Mexico, India, Easter Island, and central Chile. Flowers are produced sporadically during late summer and autumn, singly on stems 10 to 20 centimetres (4 to 8 in) tall. Flowers are usually yellow with copper tones on the outside, with tepals about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long, fused for a short distance at the base to form a tube. As with all former Habranthus species, the flowers are not upright on the stem but held at a slight angle. The leaves are not normally present at flowering time, appearing later; they are narrowly linear. Zephyranthes tubispatha tolerates some frost down to 0 °C (32 °F) if planted in a sheltered sunny position, but will not survive being frozen. It seeds freely. A form with pinkish flowers is grown as var. rosea, but may be a hybrid.