Atamasco Rain Lily

The Atamasco rain lily is a native American lily that is found growing in large colonies along ditches and lowlands of the Southern United States. These white lilies are trumpet shaped with a green center and each flower emits a pleasing enchanting fragrance. In some areas this lily is called an 'Easter Lily', because of the flowering climax reached in April near the holiday period. These lilies will bloom several times during the season, if the moisture conditions are optimum. The newly formed seed will soon be dispersed and will in time grow into large clumps which after blooming will produce new seed pods that will ripen and each dispersal will soon result in germination and the formation of new flower bulbs.The flower blooms of the Atamasco Rain Lily contain six pure white petals that are slightly curved backwards. Six stamens rise from the center topped by anthers filled with butter-yellow pollen that produces seedpods shortly after filled with very fertile seeds that quickly germinate into new bulbs that can flower the next year. The mother bulb of the Atamasco Rain Lily produces numerous offset bulbs that quickly grow into clumps to display a dazzling white flower display that lasts for weeks. Even though the Atamasco Rain Lily grows in great profusion in wetlands, the bulbs can easily be transplanted into yards, where they can reliably bloom every year, even in dry shady areas, and the bulbs are adapted to well survive droughts. The Atamasco Rain Lily in many areas of Georgia is called the "Eastern Lily", because it usually flowers around Easter Sunday and is very often most floriferous at Mother's Day. As the pure what petals of the Atamasco Rain Lily age, red streaks develop and the tips turn red until finally after pollination has occurred, the petals close up and turn red preceding the formation of the seed pod.