TIGRIDIA (Iridaceae)
Mexican shellflower

     pavonia 'Alba' ~ A mid- to late-summer succession of 4-inch-wide, three-lobed, crimson-spotted white flowers on 16-inch stems above sword-shaped leaves. Plant the corms outdoors after the soil has warmed, or start them indoors in pots. Summer moisture and a dryish winter dormancy required. Subtropical/tropical; Mexico. Zone 8. 7+cm corms.

     pavonia 'Canariensis' ~ Same large, showy, iridaceous flowers; different color scheme: pale yellow with raspberry-purple blotches. 7+cm corms.

     pavonia 'Lilacea' ~ A sultry plummy-red form, highlighted with the usual purple freckles. 7+cm corms.

     pavonia mixed colors ~ For an especially raucous display, here's a mixture of all of the above. 7+cm corms.

TULBAGHIA (Alliaceae)
Society garlic

     simmleri (fragrans) ~ Among the most floriferous and fragrant of bulbs, sweet garlic produces its starburst clusters of hyacinth-scented, lilac flowers for many weeks in spring and sporadically throughout the rest of the year. At 18 inches tall, it's just right for a cool, sunny window ledge or greenhouse. The foot-long, grassy, gently garlic-scented leaves are quietly attractive. Subtropical; Transvaal. Zone 8.

     simmleri 'Alba' ~ The elegant white form, lovely in combination with the type.

   
ZANTEDESCHIA (Araceae)
Calla lily

     aethiopica 'Childsiana' ~ A floriferous and eminently useful dwarf selection of this essential water garden plant, hoisting its elegant, cupped, alabaster-white spathes on 18-inch (rather than 3-foot) peduncles, and thus making the perfect choice for the conservatory or small garden. The lush, arrow-shaped leaves are normally evergreen, but die back in zone 7. Dislikes dry or hot conditions. Mediterranean; S Africa. Zone 7. 12+cm tubers.

ZEPHYRANTHES (Amaryllidaceae)
Zephyr lily, rain lily

     candida ~ Typical of its lovely tribe in its wide-flaring, goblet-shaped flowers and its amenability to container culture, but differing in its considerable winter-hardiness and its rush-like foliage, this marsh-dweller lifts its 2-inch white blooms on 8-inch scapes from late summer into fall. Its only requirements are a reasonably moist soil and -- in the northern fringes of its hardiness range -- a loose winter mulch. Subtropical; N Argentina. Zone 6.

     citrina ~ A common but welcome sight in Southern gardens, the golden goblets of this floriferous, fecund, drought-tolerant, and surprisingly hardy species begin in midsummer and crescendo in early fall. Tropical; Yucatan. Zone 7.

     katherinae (jacala) ~ A dazzler, with citron-yellow, orange-picoteed, gold-stamened goblets on 6-inch stems in summer. It is also distinguished by its rounded "petals" and linear foliage. The specific epithet commemorates Katherine Clint, who was obviously having a good day when she discovered this beauty in the uplands of central Mexico. Subtropical. Zone 8.

     lindleyana ~ We offer here a dark pink form of "one of the best Mexican species" (Howard). Among the earliest and largest of the zephs in flower, it comes into bloom in late spring and continues intermittently throughout the season. It is also generous with its seed. Subtropical; NE & C Mexico. Zone 8.

     lindleyana 'Horsetail Falls' ~ A robust, hardy, broad-leaved form, with 3-inch-long, light pink flowers on 10-inch scapes arising in spring and sporadically thereafter from large bulbs. Like all the zephs, it makes a wonderful container plant. Subtropical; NE Mexico. Zone 8.

     macrosiphon ~ Large (2.5-inch), glowing cherry-pink goblets, "surpassing Z. grandiflora in precision and symmetry of design" (Ogden), and verdant, relatively broad leaves mark this as a "must-have" zeph. Given good soil and not-too-dry conditions, it will flower intermittently through the summer. Subtropical; C & E Mexico. Zone 8.

     primulina ~ Moonlight-yellow trumpets brushed outside with rosy-pink continue through much of the summer over a lush sward of glossy, keeled leaves. "Elegant and beautiful" (Ogden). Subtropical; E Mexico. Zone 8.

     pulchella ~ Pulchritudinous indeed, its wide-flaring blooms -- displayed from late summer through fall on 6-inch scapes -- offering "the richest gold among the rain lilies" (Ogden). Native to damp swales, it needs moisture to give its best. Subtropical; Texas to N Mexico. Zone 8.

     refugiensis ~ Close to Z. pulchella both in lineage and in ornamental value, this Texas endemic sports bright yellow, green-tinged goblets on 6-inch scapes in late summer and fall. Subtropical. Zone 8.

     reginae ~ The Valles Yellow rain lily, renowned for its summer-till-frost display of light-yellow flowers. Easy and hardy. Subtropical; C & E Mexico. Zone 7.

     rosea ~ A jewel, with rose-pink, greenish-eyed, 2-1/2-inch goblets from late summer to autumn on 6-inch scapes. An ideal candidate for a sunny greenhouse or windowsill. Tropical; Cuba. Zone 10.

     'Apricot Queen' ~ An offspring of Z . pulchella, with wide-flaring flowers of luscious, lip-smacking apricot from late summer to fall. Zone 8.

     'Benidama' ~ Pink and crimson flowers on 6-inch stems. Cheerful and lovely. Zone 8.

     'Big Shot' ~ Gargantuan yet graceful hybrid of Z. traubii, flaunting 4-inch-wide, creamy, rose-daubed flowers on 8-inch scapes in summer. Zone 8.

     'Fireball' ~ One of many excellent hybrids introduced by Thad Howard in the 1950's and 60's, but now scarce in commerce. The showy, bright-orange flowers well befit its name. Zone 8.

     'Ivory Star' ~ A floriferous and hardy hybrid of the Texas native Z. chlorosolen , bearing yellow-fading-to-cream, fragrant, wide-flaring flowers from summer to fall. Zone 7.

     Mexican traubii ~ This Mexican variety of Z. chlorosolen or Z. traubii is commendable for the "excellent form" (Howard) of its white, pink-tipped trumpets and for its early and prolonged bloom. Zone 8.

     'Prairie Sunset' ~ Pale apricot-yellow flowers with salmon undertones from summer into fall adorn this hybrid of Z. candida. Hardy, adaptable, and beautiful. Zone 6?

     'White Swan' ~ Reputed to be one of the hardiest of the zephs, this little-known hybrid throws pure-white blooms on 6-inch scapes from midsummer to fall. Zone 6?