The Tough Little Harbinger of Fall
One summer morning, the family group text string began dinging notifications with pictures of nephews and nieces starting school! It seemed so early, but then I realized September was only a few weeks away, and that meant it was almost time for the schoolhouse lilies to bloom. Also known as the “oxblood lily,” these hardy plants make yearly appearances in older neighborhoods and abandoned homesites across Central Texas. This bulb is sometimes called the “schoolhouse lily” because it blooms near the beginning of the school year, which used to begin later in the year.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a good late summer rain will cause these flower bulbs to pop up their blooms and display a deep red vivid show of flowers on naked stalks. This occurs just as summer is coming to an end and early fall is beginning. Grassy lawns with no irrigation and empty lots are a crispy brown due to the lack of rain we often experience in late summer. One soaking rain can trigger the bloom, and the vermillion red against the dried grass makes for a striking display!
A Bulb with History
These bulbs are historic and were passed from one Texas gardener to another starting in the late 1800s and continuing through the 20th century. Even today, they are a favorite pass-along plant. Originally a native of Argentina, these naturalized bulbs were introduced to Texas by a German botanist and were heavily passed among German and Czech settlers. Botanically they are known as Rhodophiala bifida, and the common “oxblood” name refers to the vermilion-red, amaryllis-like flowers that they produce.
The Unique Bloom Cycle
These bulbs act very similarly to red and yellow spider lilies. They bloom in the fall and then have foliage for the winter. This contrasts to most flowers that produce their blooms after you have watched the greenery grow first. These lilies are dormant in the summer. Then the flowers suddenly appear with the first late summer and early fall rains. After the flowers die back, the bulb sends up strappy, bright green foliage to take it through the winter and give you some lovely greenery to complement your spring blooms.
Each schoolhouse lily bulb can bloom for 1–2 weeks with stalks that produce 5–6 flowers. Since all bulbs do not produce at the same time, you can often have blooms for around 3 weeks. Some gardeners criticize this shorter bloom time, but many overlook this objection due to the vibrancy of the blooms.
Landscape and Planting
The schoolhouse lily will grow to about 10–16 inches tall. These breathtaking beauties actually flourish in the August/September heat and humidity in the southern United States. They are extremely adaptable to a wide range of soils. They can even thrive in heavy clay, but as with most bulbs, do not try growing oxblood lilies in boggy soils. They like to be drier during the summer months when they are dormant. The lilies look amazing in rock gardens or stretched out along pathways. They make dramatic displays when they are clumped focal points.
As a good “rule of thumb,” plant at a depth about three times the height of the bulb itself. Plant your flowers with 2–3 bulbs per clump for a more natural-looking display. They will multiply quickly from offsets and established large clumps of bulbs are valued for their strength and endurance. If you water them 2–3 times a week for a couple of weeks after planting, that will help them adjust to their new home.
Sunlight Requirements
They bloom in full sun, but the flower blooms hold up best when they can bloom in partial shade away from the occasional 100-degree sun. They grow their foliage after the bloom, during the winter, and they really need at least 6 hours of winter sunlight a day. In other words, that shady spot where they bloom in late summer can be under a deciduous tree which will in turn allow them to grow quite healthy with full sun in the winter. You can leave oxblood lilies undivided for years, and they will come back and bloom more prolifically each year.
The Pink Oxblood Lily
The Southern Bulb Co. is proud to offer the rare PINK Oxblood lily. This September bloomer produces 3 bright pink blooms on each stalk. When this bulb blooms, it means cooler temperatures are on the way. Hardy in Zones 6–10, the pink variety shares the same tough, naturalizing disposition as its red cousin but adds an unexpected color twist to the fall garden.
Companion Plants
Because of the green foliage through the winter, you have so many things that you can plant with your schoolhouse lilies to really highlight their non-blooming season. Consider planting with the red and yellow spider lilies which also give you even more greenery during the winter months. They can be planted with narcissus and daffodils so that the additional greenery compliments the daffodil blooms in the spring. You might also consider catmint, bronze fennel, clover fern, or several other plants that the oxblood lily would look great blooming next to in September.
Wildlife
Hummingbirds and bees adore this bloom. We aren’t really sure which plays a bigger role in the attraction, whether it is the deep red color or the fact that there are fewer blooming options this time of year. Outside of Central Texas you really don’t see the oxblood lilies very often. There are no doubt anthropologic stories to be discovered by the presence of the bulb, and hopefully this can be explored more in the future.
Hardy in Zones 6–10
Bloom Season: September (Late Summer/Early Fall)
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade