Re: [SG] shady daylilies

Claire--

As a grower of 1400 daylilies, I both agree and disagree with you.  The species
that you recommend are very good; I grow them in part shade myself and they do
very well.  Another bonus of H. lilioasphelodelus (sp?) is that it reblooms here,
and it's tough to find modern hybrids that rebloom in the north.

On the other hand, I grow a lot of pricey modern hybrids in at least part shade,
and some of them do quite well.  Reds and purples, particularly, benefit from
this set-up as their colors fade less than in the sun.  However, it is a
hit-or-miss deal.  I interplant daylilies with heucheras and hostas, and in many
cases, all do well in the same semi-shaded areas.  I love the combinations.  Most
modern daylilies will grow in these conditions even though they may have somewhat
lower bud counts.  But who cares if the blooms look better?


Now no harassing me for being a daylily nut!!  I also have about 250 hostas and a
lot of fabulous heucheras, epimediums, and pulmonarias.

Beth    z6

Claire Peplowski wrote:

> 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
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