Habranthus robustus (pink rain lily)

Japanese name: ハブランサス ロブスツス
Scientific name: Habranthus robustus

[Overview]
A perennial about 15–30 cm tall.
It has an ovate underground bulb 3–5 cm in diameter.
The leaves are basal, linear, thick and fleshy, 30–40 cm long and 0.5–1 cm wide, slightly grayish, and have withered by the flowering season.
A single flower is borne at the tip of the flower stalk that rises from the bulb.
The flower is funnel-shaped, 6-petaled, 5–6 cm long and 8–10 cm across, and opens facing slightly upward to sideways.
The flowers are pink, with the color deeper toward the petal tips.
Each flower closes after one day.
When rain falls, the flower stalk elongates and the flower opens.
There are 6 stamens, and the tip of the pistil's stigma is 3-lobed.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by dividing bulbs.
Seed has a relatively short life, so sow it as soon as it is harvested.
Plants flower 2–3 years after germination.
Divide bulbs in spring; when planting, set them closely for dense planting (about 5–7 bulbs in a 5-gou pot) and plant shallowly so that only the tops of the bulbs are covered.
In a sunny, well-drained place it is not particular about soil and grows well even when left alone.
It tolerates temperatures down to about 0 degrees, so in warm regions it can be left in the ground.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil becomes dry.
Do not let it run short of water during the growing season.
Apply organic fertilizer as basal fertilizer, and give a fertilizer high in potassium after flowering.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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