They are widely cultivated as ornamentals and have become naturalized in tropical regions worldwide.

[3] They bear five to six narrow and flattened dark green linear leaves, about 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) wide, from spherical tunicate bulbs around 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres (0.59 to 0.98 in) in diameter.

[4][5][6] The single funnel-shaped flowers are borne erect or slightly inclined on scapes around 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long.

[16][17] The generic name Zephyranthes literally means "flowers of the west wind", from Greek ζέφυρος (zéphuros, the god of the west wind) and ἄνθος (anthos, 'flower').

[19][20][21] It is also commonly known as duende rojo ('red dwarf') and leli de San Jose in Spanish;[4] and rosafarbene and Windblume in German.

[16][22] Z. carinata can be distinguished from true Z. rosea by their much larger flowers with a deeper pink coloration.

It is widely planted in warmer regions around the world and is reportedly naturalized in Florida, India, the West Indies, many of the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans[13][27] They are common in recently disturbed land and grassy areas (like lawns and meadows) that receive periodical rainfall.

[8][9][28] Zephyranthes rosea are usually propagated by dividing clumps of bulbs, but can also be grown from seeds.

[29] The bulbs of Z. rosea, like other members of Zephyranthes and Habranthus, contain various toxic alkaloids including lycorine and haemanthamine.