rain lilies, friend or foe?

Are rain lilies a friend or foe? I seem to have them everywhere. Even through the lawn? I'm thinking of moving them to happier homes but don't want to do that if they are going to be a pest. What do you guys think?

I have heard they do readily multiply, but in your lawn? Do they have underground runners? I often hear of them in pots and maybe there's a good reason for that.

I have white ones and they seem to stay in one place. Even the ditch the came out of years ago, they are still in the one area.

One man's garbage....

I think you would find many people more than willing to take them off your hands!

What conditions do you have them in so that they thrive? I've been trying and trying to get some to grow and they just poop out on me.

Mine have been around forever. I have a home that is over 100 years old and the lady who lived in it the 80 years prior to me was an avid gardener. I often find all kinds of strange things around this place! They are in overcrowded clumps in all the original gardens around trees, and even in places in the grass that may have been a garden in years past. Thay rarely bloom. I think maybe because the clumps are so tight and old. Maybe I should dig some up and thin them out. Give away some that are languishing in the grass and under bushes. Anybody want a clump?

Here is a photo of a clump that is stuck under the fig bush.

I wondered if maybe they are foe because they are so abundant, but don't bloom very much. I seem to be getting a pretty consistent opinion that they are not foe. Probably just need a little TLC to bring them into their glory!

Me! Me! Me! Me! (Quiety asking now.) Can I have some, Robin? lol

OK, Pins. I would love to send you some. I'll send them Monday. Maybe it is early enough that you can break up the clump and get them happy by spring. Be sure to break up the clump and get the grass and clover etc out of the clump and away from around the bulbs so you don't get weeds in your garden.

Will do! Do you want postage or just plants when you come down? Either way is fine, but you'll come out ahead with the plants. lol

We can make it right next time I see you. You have so many cool plants in your garden that I KNOW I will come out better to wait! Good luck with the rain lilies. I hope you can make them happy.

I planted mine in some pots with my elephant ears last year. They looked pretty good!

Mine have lots of leaves but no flowers. That is why I asked if they are a good plant or a pest. Maybe I should try to dig a few up and pot them. Give them a little luxury for a while and see how that works. I did take some out from under the fig tree, divided them and planted them in a nice fertile garden. I have hope that that might also work.

Are they in an area that gets watered by an irrigation system? The reason I ask, is that they need a siginifigant dry period, followed by a good storm, in order to bloom. If they're being watered by a sprinkler system they'll never get the needed dry period.

At my last home I planted hundreds along our driveway, right in with the grass. I just mowed it along with the grass. When the spring and summer rains came, I'd wake up to a spectacularly edged driveway of pink flowers. It was really quite the site, but would only occur 2-3 times per year.

Chris

I've seen photos and always wanted some, they are so pretty! But, alas, my zone is too cold. Oh, is that my zone envy rearing it's ugly head?

Thanks Treasure: Mine get no particular special treatment and are not irrigated. But that also means that I can't control dry/wet periods very well. Maybe that is the problem?

Treasure I really appreciate that tip. I have the yellow which produce a fertil seed pod with every bloom and the pink which never produce a seed pod. Can anyone explain/help me figure out why?