If you’re tired of planting bulbs that are
”
one hit wonders,
”
namely bulbs that bloom only one season, consider daylilies.
Daylilies are the Rodney Dangerfield of bulbs. They don’t get any
respect, but do they perform!
If you’re tired of planting bulbs that are “one hit wonders,” namely bulbs that bloom only one season, consider daylilies. Daylilies are the Rodney Dangerfield of bulbs. They don’t get any respect, but do they perform!
There are more than 48,000 daylilies registered in the United States, bred in 25 states by hundreds of individual hybridizers. They are hardy bulbs, coming back year after year and also blooming throughout summer in full sun or light shade. And the All-American Daylily Selection Council just announced two new All-American daylily beauties: “Frankly Scarlet” and “Plum Perfect.” Both of these will be available at garden centers nationwide this spring. They will be distinguished by banners, signs and attractive blue containers.
“Frankly Scarlet,” besides having a great name, represents a breakthrough in red daylily breeding. While most red daylily blooms lose their luster as the sun beats down on them, this All-American shines in the heat. Starting out somewhat muted in the morning, these velvety, scarlet, four-inch blooms actually build color intensity throughout the afternoon and still are vibrant come dusk.
Nothing sets off bright red like dark green, which makes “Frankly Scarlet’s” dark green, 14- to 25-inch foliage such an excellent landscape statement. The foliage retains its lush, dark-green color throughout heat. These daylilies will bloom throughout summer and well past Thanksgiving in our mild-winter climate.
“Plum Perfect,” the other 2003 All-American, shows off pure plum blooms borne on well-branched stems. The 3- to 4-inch flowers are an indigo purple that is set off by a glowing gold throat, purple veining, white mid-ribs and lightly ruffled edges. Clear, vibrant color couple with striking symmetry of foliage sets this beauty apart. Frequent reblooming is another reward for this rapid multiplier.
Oh, did I forget to mention that daylilies multiply on their own? Every year or two after they’re through blooming, you can dig them up and divide. There’s nothing like free plants to expand in your garden, or to give away to friends and family!
The soaring popularity of dayliles, combined with the bewildering profusion of varieties and growing characteristics, demanded the development of a standard for daylily excellence. The All-American Daylily Selection Council, organized to address this demand, and now coordinates a testing program that evaluates dayliles on more than 50 performance standards across a nationwide network of test sites. This rigorous testing has produced comprehensive and surprising results. Who would have thought, for example, that a daylily bred in Texas would be a top performer in Wisconsin, or that one from Missouri also would perform well in California?
For more information about these daylilies, check out www.daylilyresearch.org on the Internet.
