Family: Amaryllidaceae
Origin, Description & Uses
Zephyranthes citrina, commonly known as yellow rain lily, is a small bulb-forming plant native to southeastern Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean, including Cuba and Haiti. It produces narrow, grass-like leaves and attractive bright yellow, crocus-like flowers that often appear suddenly after rainfall, giving rise to its common name. This species is popular as an ornamental garden plant due to its delicate flowers, compact size, and ability to thrive in a variety of landscapes. It is sometimes planted in borders, rock gardens, and other low-maintenance ornamental settings.
Risks & Threats
Zephyranthes citrina is naturalized in Hawaiʻi, including on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Maui. It possesses traits that are cause for concern, including the ability to spread beyond cultivation through bulb offsets and seeds, allowing it to persist and establish in suitable habitats. While its current impacts in Hawaiʻi may be limited, naturalized populations have the potential to expand and could detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems by competing with native and other desirable plants. Choose a low-risk or native alternative when available. Where this species is already widespread, manage existing populations and prevent its use in areas where it is not yet well established to minimize further negative impacts.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui (Hawaiian Islands) and possibly elsewhere
- May be weedy, but negative impacts have not been reported
- Other Zephyranthes species are weeds
- Toxic to animals and people
- Unpalatable to animals
- Tolerates many soil types
- Geophyte (regrows from bulbs)
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by offsets
- May hybridize
- Self-compatible
- Reaches maturity in 1 year
- Seeds dispersed by wind and intentionally by people
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Thrives in full sun (may limit spread into shaded areas)
- Ornamental
