Whether single-colored or intricately patterned, daylilies (Hemerocallis) are practically unmatched for their adaptability and versatility in the garden. Their genetic heritage contains traits from species native to habitats ranging from bogs to rocky mountainsides. Now, thanks to the work of devoted breeders and the enthusiasm of passionate gardeners, choices include a vast range of flower colors, sizes, shapes, and patterns. And because daylilies vary also in height, foliage, and bloom season, they complement any garden.
Some of the most interesting new varieties have a zone of different color or a darker shade of the same color located between the throat and the tips of the flower segments. So-called eyed daylilies have a zone of color on both petals and sepals (modified leaves around the base of the flower). In addition to the striking eyed daylilies, there are many other patterned daylilies, each with a band, halo, or edging of color on the flower. Nearly all eyed daylilies have been developed within the past 25 years, and they include hundreds of named varieties with distinctive patterns.
Selecting Daylilies For Your Climate
Daylilies are loosely grouped by their foliage habit as evergreen, deciduous (often called dormant), or semievergreen. Although cold-hardiness is not strictly determined by foliage habit, the groups provide a basis for choosing varieties.
Wherever you live, there are many daylily options for your garden. In general, evergreen daylilies are well suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9, where they grow throughout much of the year. Some evergreens are also cold-hardy (to zone 4), but their foliage dies back.
Conversely, the foliage of deciduous types (zones 3 through 8) dies in winter even in mild climates. Some deciduous varieties depend on a period of cold weather to stimulate vigorous spring growth, while others grow and bloom well in both the south and the north. However, most are not well suited to zone 8 and warmer gardens, or wherever summers typically include more than 90 days above 86° F.
Semievergreen comprises varieties that don't fall neatly into the other groups. Many of these are hardy in zones 4 and 5.
Selecting Daylilies For Your Garden
Look for flowers with unusual color combinations, a long bloom season, and well-branched bloom stalks, so flowers are not closely bunched. Other features that add value to plants include vigorous foliage and flowers that tolerate summer sun and moderate wind and rain.
Flowers should have uniform petals and sepals that form a pleasing symmetrical shape, whether circular, triangular, or starlike. To learn about the possibilities for your area, visit local gardens.
Favorite Color and Perennial Companions
Because daylily bloom time can be variable, the best companions are foliage plants and flowering annuals that provide steady compatibility throughout the season For example, planting 'Indy Charmer' next to 'Pewter Veil' coral bells (Heuchera) where both receive more than a half-day of sun but are shaded by woods from the hottest afternoon sun. Both thrive in these conditions. By late July and early August when the daylilies bloom, the coral bells' leaves have assumed the same lavender-purple hue as the daylily blooms. New ruby- or purple-leaved coral bells such as 'Montrose Ruby' or 'Plum Pudding' could also create such color schemes. In warmer climates, however, they need more shade than daylilies do.
For an exuberant variation on matching a daylily's eye color to companion plants, place a brilliant gold and maroon daylily like 'Siloam Jandee' or 'Bold Tiger' behind purple or burgundy petunias or Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple' and gold dwarf marigolds. This verbena produces deep purple flower clusters all summer, and its lacy leaves contrast with upright daylily foliage.
Summer-blooming vines on a nearby fence or trellis can also contribute color. Flowers of 'Goldflame' honeysuckle (Lonicera heckrottii), which are pink on the outside and ivory yellow inside, match the blooms of 'Siloam Ethel Smith' daylily.
Eyed and Patterned Daylilies: Multiple Choices
Classifying daylilies is nearly as difficult as classifying snowflakes. Both have six segments (except for double flowers, which have more) and innumerable variations. Choosing from the hundreds of named eyed and patterned daylily varieties can be daunting. Each year, the American Hemerocallis Society conducts a popularity poll among its members in 15 regions. (For a list of winners, see its Web site, www.daylilies.org.)
The following list is a good starting point; it includes some of my favorite varieties as well as recent AHS award winners. Listings are organized by flower color and size (miniatures are less than 3 inches across; small are 3 to 4-1/2 inches across; large are more than 4-1/2 inches). Also noted are plant size, foliage habit, bloom time, and major awards. The highest award given by the AHS judges is the annual Stout Silver Medal.
Daylilies with Contrasting Colors
Miniature Flowered Daylily Varieties
'Bibbity Bobbity Boo': deep purple flowers with wide black eye; 18 inches tall; semievergreen; early to midseason with rebloom. Donn Fischer Memorial Award in 1998 for best miniature.
'Black-Eyed Stella': yellow-gold with a burgundy eye; 13 inches tall; deciduous; early with rebloom. All-America Daylily Selection Council award in 1994. Grows from Canada to Florida.
'Broadway Pink Delight': ruffled pink with red eye; 16 inches tall; deciduous; early to midseason with rebloom.
'Siloam Jandee': gold with maroon eye; 24 inches tall; deciduous; early to midseason.
Small Flowered Daylily Varieties
'Dark Eyed Magic': cream with a large purple eye; 22 inches tall; deciduous; midseason.
'Dragon's Eye': pink petals and very large, bright rose eye; 22 inches tall; semievergreen; mid- to late season.
'Pandora's Box': creamy petals and bright purple eye; 19 inches tall; evergreen; mid- to late season with rebloom; fragrant. Annie T. Giles Award in 1987 for outstanding small-flowered variety.
Large Flowered Daylily Varieties
'Cherry Eyed Pumpkin': orange with a bright cherry eye; 28 inches tall; semievergreen; very early with rebloom.
'Custard Candy': creamy yellow with maroon eye; 24 inches tall; deciduous; early to midseason with rebloom. Stout Silver Medal finalist in 1998.
'Rumble Seat Romance': bright yellow flowers with a purple eye; 22 inches tall; semievergreen; midseason with rebloom.
Pastels DayliliesWith Dark Eyes
Small Flowers'Indy Charmer': lavender and white bitone (dark petals with light sepals) with purple eye; 18 inches tall; semievergreen; early to midseason.
'Siloam Ethel Smith': light beige-pink petals with rose eye; 20 inches tall; deciduous; midseason.
Large Flowers
'Paper Butterfly': peach with violet eye; 24 inches tall; semievergreen; early with rebloom. Lenington All-American Daylily Selections Award in 1998 for best performer over a wide geographic area; has been for sale for at least 10 years.
'Strawberry Candy': rose-pink with darker eye; 26 inches tall; semi-evergreen; early to midseason; very vigorous. Stout Silver Medal finalist in 1998 and the top ranked in 9 of AHS's 15 regions.
'Wineberry Candy': orchid with purple eye; 22 inches tall; deciduous; early to midseason; fragrant. L. Ernest Plouf Award in 1998 for best dormant and fragrant named variety.< with a rose eye; 15 inches tall; semievergreen; early to midseason.
'Forty-Second Street': light pink with rose eye; 24 inches tall; evergreen; midseason with rebloom. Ida Munson Award in 1998 for best double.
'Mount Helena': creamy petals with a rosy-purple band on petals and sepals; 26 inches tall; deciduous; midseason.
It is no wonder that daylilies are one of the most popular perennial plants. We have tens of thousands of Daylilies in our database, and an extremely active daylily forum for devoted daylily growers.
Dorothy J. Pellett grows more than 60 varieties of eyed daylilies in her Vermont garden.
Photographs by Suzanne DeJohn/ National Gardening Association
