HEMEROCALLIS
(Plant heights are given at maturity)
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Daylilies are a favorite perennial for gardens everywhere.
The trumpet-shaped blooms are short-lived, but are borne over a period
of several weeks to an entire season, depending on the variety. The
name hemerocallis is derived from the Greek hemera, meaning a day,
and kallos, meaning beauty, an allusion to the short lived blooms.
They are easily grown in well drained soils and do well in most ordinary
garden soils, though they do best in sandy loams. In very sandy or
light soils it is best to plant them in partial shade and add peat or mulch
to the surface to prevent drying out, though they withstand drought conditions
very well and, for this reason, are considered an important garden perennial
in the southern and southwestern US. They are virtually trouble free,
multiply rapidly and should be divided every 3-4 years to prevent over-crowding.
Certain varieties of daylily can be found growing wild in parts of the
US, and have been cultivated for over 2,500 years. The leaves, flowers
and roots are all edible. Leaves are used as one would celery or
asparagus. The flowers are used in salads and soups, the buds are
very high in vitamin A. They are often eaten raw or cooked or dried
and used as a relish. Roots are eaten raw or are cooked like potatoes.
Medicinally, hemerocallis flowers are used to as a blood purifier, and
the roots are used as an antidote to arsenic poisoning and to treat tumorous
cancers. There are currently many hundreds of cultivars now
available in a full spectrum of colors - some with semi-double or
double blooms and some which bloom the entire growing season. Valuable
for border plantings or naturalized, they create a splash of summer color
that will add cheer and drama wherever they are found. Hardy from
-40F (-34.4C) to 30F (-6.6C) -- USDA Zones 3-9.
VARIETIES
Baja - Blooms are dark red with a yellow center and green throat and do
not fade in the sun. Bears heavily. Height: 26in.
Bama Music - Blooms are delicate pink 6 point stars with
a yellow center and green throat and paler pink midribs. Performs
well in full sun and in partial shade. Height: 36in.
Bela Lugosi - As dramatic as its namesake, who was the ultimate Count Dracula.
Dark purple blooms with lime green throats are sunfast and do not fade
and form a bat-shaped pattern. Strong growing and heavy blooming.
Height: 33in.
Bertie Ferris - One of the earliest blooming varieties, Bertie has apricot-orange
petals with loosely ruffled edges and a darker orange center. Height:
20in.
Daring Deception - Unique coloring and strong growth in one plant.
Bloom have creamy pink petals edged in burgundy with a burgundy center
eye. Edges are picoteed pie crust. Very different. Height:
24in.
Eenie Weenie - Sunshine yellow petals and a green throat. A dwarf
variety, growing to only 10" in height. Makes a great ground cover
and will bloom all summer if dead headed. Height: 10in.
Forty Carats - Rounded petals are a deep golden yellow and have pie
crust edges. Throat is is deep green. Grows rapidly and blooms
profusely. A good variety for use as a border as it multiplies rapidly.
Height: 30in.
Fulva (Orange Daylily, Tawny Daylily, Chin Chen Ts'Ai, Sina-Kanzo,
Wang Yu) This is the lovely wild version of the daylily found wild
over most of the midwest and in many other parts of the world. Theory
has it that it is an ancient variety that escaped cultivation to thrive
in ditches and by roadsides in a wide variety of soil types. Drought
resistant, it multiplies rapidly and makes a perfect type for borders or
naturalizing. Blooms are bright orange with a green throat.
Height: 28in.
Happy Returns - Lemon yellow blooms with slightly crimped edges.
An ever-blooming type, the blooms are larger than Stella del Oro.
Height: 24in.
Ice Carnival - Fragrant, white blooms with pale yellow center markings
and green throats. Petals have a shimmering appearance in the sun.
A real find. Height: 28in.
Jedi Free Spirit - Vigorous growing and virtually trouble free. Pink
blooms with darker pink veining fade to a yellow center and a green throat.
Petals are ruffled. Heavy blooming. Hardy to -40F ( -40C);
height: 25"
Pardon Me - Cranberry red petals with narrow yellow markings and green
throats have pie crust edges and are slightly curved. Hevy blooming
variety, this is an ever-blooming variety. Height: 18in.
Razzmatazz - Very showy purple blooms with darker purple veins and paler
purple midribs and white petal tips. Ever-blooming. Height:
20in.
Siloam Double Classic - Beautiful variety having extremely fragrant double
pink blooms with a yellow center and green throat. Very pretty -
very delicate in appearance. Height: 18in.
Stella del Oro - Now the most popular of daylillies, this every blooming
variety has bright yellow-gold petals with pie crust edging. Height:
15in.
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