shady daylilies

In a message dated 6/8/99 9:24:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
stedman@INTERPORT.NET writes:

<< Claire: How much sun is the Hemerocallis flava in? I've tried many, many
 daylilies in the shade to no avail. Is this more tolerant than most? >>

The hemerocallis growing in the shade gardens is h. lilioasphelodelus or h.
flava the synonym.  This is a species, not a modern hybrid.   The flowers are
a pleasing light yellow, trumpet shaped and fragrant.

If grown in the sun there is a dazzling display of flowers.  Those in the
shade send up fewer scapes.  A good sized clump will have a dozen scapes and
be quite showy in the shade.  If you want the newer more desired form, a flat
and rounded daylily, you will have trouble with shade.  Most want very good
soil, a lot of water and full sun.

There are several other species that bloom well in the shade and I suspect
older hybrids will bloom there as well.  H. flava is nearly indestructible
blooming here in cold country in late May.  I wrote an article on this hem a
few years ago and received not one single comment, species are not popular
with hem collectors.

To my way of thinking, the older simpler formed hybrids and most of the
species are very desirable.  I also have h. middendorffi which is a short
plant blooming in dry shade.  This is a pale orange color blooming for about
three weeks in late May/early June.

If you are looking for hems to bloom in shade stay away from the new and the
pricey.  Try to find the older ones in a friend's garden.  H. flava is in
many catalogs being listed by White Flower Farm for many years.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY
z4
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index