daylilies

In a message dated 7/9/99 11:50:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mtalt@CLARK.NET
writes:

<<
 Daylilies are a royal pain as they do insist on keeping those dead heads
 which look like rotting damp flags.  They don't mind if you don't remove
 them, but they are so unsightly. >>

I know that a few SG friends will be be a bit perturbed by any daylily
comment but here is mine.

If you choose the trumpet (true lily) shaped plants, those with narrow petals
and sepals the spent blossoms are hardly noticeable.  These choices would be
amongst the "spider forms" or in the category of historics.

Newer hybrids have larger flowers with greater substance (thick sturdy
petals).  This flower lasts one day and then spends several more days
decaying and falling from the plant.  An old plant with numerous tall yellow
flowers is 'Hyperion'.  A smaller yellow with a very high bud count is
'Corky", similar is 'Golden Chimes'.

I have seen 'Golden Chimes' or 'Corky' planted in nearly every English border
I have visited.

When a daylily tour is offered, someone has to spend hours deadheading all of
those beautiful newer plants to avoid the spent look.

It might be better to plant the daylilies among other perennnials so a
"grassy" look is avoided.  I have older yellow cv's planted with the hosta
and other shade plants.  They do not produce as many scapes but they do bloom
and are quite pretty in the shade garden.  Colors other than yellow seem to
need the full sun, a paler color on the yellows is quite good looking.

I like the lily form, it is similar to true lilies and not eaten by the voles.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY
z4
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