Rock Solid is very aptly named. It is weatherproof, reliable, and consistent. I received my plant as a division from my friend Mary.  It's a prolific garden plant. 

Hybridized in 2002 by Patrick Stamile, this dormant tetraploid grows 27 inches tall in my garden.  Rock Solid is an early midseason bloomer that flowered from July 2 through August 4 (bud count 31–35). Blooms are almost 5 inches in size. The genetics of this daylily are so desirable that there are 181 child plants listed in the daylily database. Rock Solid is truly a sure thing!

American Daylily Society Awards
Award of Merit: 2011
Honorable Mention: 2008

Unbridled Spirit is one of my garden favorites. The beautiful pastel pink blends with my other flower colors and the ornate edges with teeth and hooks add visual interest.

Hybridized in Kentucky by John Rice (2007), this dormant tetraploid is very hardy in Wisconsin. Unbridled Spirit is registered as growing 33 inches tall, but in my garden it grows 40 inches plus. The blooms are 5.5 inches and are consistent and weatherproof. This daylily is a late season bloomer starting in late July and going into August. It is worthy to note that one of its parents is the famous Forestlake Ragamuffin.

American Daylily Society Award: Honorable Mention 2011

About 25 years ago I received Spanish Glow as a freebie plant with one of my daylily orders. Believe it or not, I ended up liking Spanish Glow way more than the daylilies I actually ordered. Dozens of daylilies have come and gone in my garden, but Spanish Glow has remained.

Hybridized by Jeff Salter in 1988, this semi-evergreen tetraploid grows 26 to 28 inches tall with a 5 inch bloom. The soft pastel peach is lovely. It is a mid-late season bloomer, that blooms from July through August. Spanish Glow is a perfect garden plant...beauty plus performance!

American Dayliliy Society Award: 1992 Honorable Mention

Stranger in a Strange Land is one of my newer daylilies. I had an empty spot in our brick retaining wall. I wanted a smaller, purple, late bloomer; and this daylily checked all of the boxes. Hybridized in 2011 by Karol Emmerich,  this Minnesota daylily grows very well in Wisconsin. It grows with five inch blooms, between 22 and 24 inches tall, and begins blooming towards late July and well into August. It is sunfast and consistent in addition to being beautiful. It was a perfect addition to our tiered retaining wall. 

Here is another of my favorite orange daylilies, Screamcicle. Hybridized by Pat Cochenour in 2003, this dormant tetraploid grows 35 inches tall and has a large 8 inch  bloom.  It is an early midseason bloomer, usually starting in early July. Categorized as an unusual form crispate, this daylily is a great performer in my Wisconsin garden with a bud count of 26-30. 

American Daylily Society Awards:
​Award of Merit: 2014
Honorable Mention: 2009

I don't usually grow unregistered daylilies, but I couldn't resist this little sweetheart. I got this daylily from Bobbi Johnson (Johnson Daylilies). Hybridized by Bob Keitzman in Wisconsin, 'Nu-Era Sure is Cool' is the name he had picked out, but never got around to registering it. Bobbi may be registering this plant in the future if she gets permission from Bob's family. In any case, I am in love with this daylily. Blooms are small –I would say about 4 to 4 1/2 inches, but the scapes grow between 30 and 36 inches tall. I planted mine right up by the house so I could appreciate the beautiful colors and intricate details. Nu-Era Sure is Cool is an early-midseason bloomer, typically starting in late June or early July. The plant is hardy and the blooms are consistent.

There is a funny story about this daylily! I grew Egyptian Spice many years ago, but had given it away to make room for new daylilies. Lo and behold, last year I found it blooming behind our garage in the field. I am guessing a small piece of the crown got thrown in the field with a bunch of weeds. The poor thing looked so pathetic; it was begging for a second chance. Ange dug it out for me and we placed it in our large garden by the road. We gave it some TLC and lots of room to spread. 

Egyptian Spice is a beautiful amber-orange blend that grows approximately 28 inches tall and has large 6 inch blooms. It is a midseason-late bloomer, usually starting in at the end of July going into August. Hybridized in Chicago by Brother Charles Reckamp in 1969, this dormant tetraploid is a classic. It won an Honorable Mention in 1973 from the American Daylily Society. The plant is already thanking me as it bloomed wonderfully this summer. Welcome back!

Here is one of my early birds; the Wisconsin–bred 'Flaming Pumpkins'. My friend Sally surprised me with a division of her plant after I admired it in her garden. Orange, waxy textured daylilies are some of my absolute favorites.

​Hybridized by Francis and Genni Kleckner in 2012, this dormant tetraploid grows 36 inches tall with 6 inch blooms. This year the blooms are even larger because of all the rain we have had. I love the delicate ruffles and the subtle gold edges on the flowers. Last summer bloom time was from June 21 through July 21. This year bloom started about two weeks later, due to the cold weather. In 2020  Flaming Pumpkins was awarded an Honorable Mention from the American Daylily Society.

I have taken hundreds of photos of 'Heavenly Starbrite' and I'm still not convinced that I have accurately captured this daylily's true beauty. It is stunning in peak bloom. The large, waxy 10 inch blooms are beacons of light in the garden. In the morning the blooms have a greenish tint. 

Hybridized in Ohio by Jamie Gossard (2005), Heavenly Starbrite is a dormant tetraploid that grows 36 inches tall in my garden. This daylily is categorized as an unusual form crispate. Last summer, bloom time was from July 22 through most of August. Starbrite's parents are Techny Spider and Adeline Goldner, both are of which are very well-known daylilies. 

'Buckeye Barnstormer' is one of my awesome little overachievers. This 100% double daylily is such a show off that I have it planted by the back door so you can appreciate it every time you come in and out of the house or drive up the driveway. It makes a beautiful clump and the foliage is very nice.

Hybridized in Iowa by Ralph Haehn and introduced in 2000, this semi-evergreen diploid grows 26 inches tall. It is a perfect plant for in front of the border. Blooms are 4.5 inches in size. Buckeye Barnstormer bloomed from June 27 through August 1 last summer. It is very hardy and consistent in Wisconsin. One of the parents of Buckeye is the Stout Medal winner Siloam Double Classic. I have grown Siloam Double Classic and Buckeye definitely inherited the vigorous nature of its parent.

'Only Just Begun' has been with me on my daylily journey from the very beginning of my obsession. I have grown this cultivar for over 30 years and I am in love with it today just as much as the first day I saw it bloom. OJB is a 1976 Gilbert Wild daylily – you've no doubt heard of Gilbert Wild of Missouri, right? I'm pretty sure just about everyone in the daylily community started out with Gilbert Wild daylilies. I remember spending hours paging through their catalog, marveling at all of the different types and colors of daylilies that were available.

Only Just Begun is a dormant diploid daylily that is very hardy and consistent in Wisconsin. Although registered at 26 inches tall, my plant is so happy it typically grows up to 33 inches tall. The 5.5 inch waxy, cream–colored blooms have a slight tinge of pink. Dainty ruffles are an added bonus. Last summer, OJB bloomed from July 2 through August 4. This prolific superstar looks wonderful whether it's 60° or 100°. Rain, shine, wind, whatever, it always looks perfect. 

'Charles and Cynthia' is a gorgeous pink and purple combination with a vibrant yellow–green eye. It also has a delicate white edge that sports occasional shark teeth. Hybridized in North Carolina and introduced in 2012 by Paul Owen, this daylily was named to honor his good friends Charles and Cynthia Lucius.

C and C is a northern hardy dormant tetraploid that grows 27 inches tall with large 6 and 1/2 inch blooms. It's a vigorous midseason bloomer with a bud count of 21 to 25. Last summer it bloomed in my garden from July 4 through August 10. This tidy, well–behaved plant is planted by a tiered retaining wall and it never disappoints me. It is noteworthy to mention that one of its parents is the well-known award–winning daylily God Save the Queen.

I was so excited that my photo of 'Firestorm' was chosen as the cover girl of the Great Lakes Daylily Magazine for Winter 2022. The cover article was about favorite older cultivars. I have had this wonderful plant for many years and it will always have a place in my garden. Be sure to read the article on page 42; you will get lots of info about 'older' tried-and-true daylilies that you may want to grow.

If you love daylilies, click on the link below and read all the great information inside. I always look forward to getting this magazine, whether it is in digital or print form. I get this magazine as part of my membership with the American Daylily Society. Check it out!

http://www.adsregion2.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Great-Lakes-Daylily-Winter-2022-Digital-Version.pdf 

I am in love with orange daylilies and the big, bold 'Fiesta Latina' checks all the boxes for me. It is a beautiful vibrant orange, has a large bloom and is a consistent performer. Hybridized in North Carolina in 2007 by Bob Selman at Blue Ridge Daylilies, Fiesta Latina is a dormant tetraploid that grows 36 inches tall in my garden. Last summer it bloomed from July 3 through the first week in August.

I have this daylily planted in a very prominent spot by my backyard patio, so when I sit outside I can enjoy it up close. It is planted by dark purple, near white and red daylilies that bloom at the same time so that the bright orange pops.

Here is one of my blooming superstars, 'Custard Candy.' This daylily is hardy, prolific and reliable. I love the delicate yellow–gold edge around all of the petals. This plant earns its garden space and then some. It's a perfect daylily to grow at the front of your border. Hybridized by Patrick Stamile, this award–winning dormant tetraploid was registered in 1989.

Custard Candy grows 24 inches tall and has flowers that are 4.25 inches in size. Bloom time is early midseason in my garden, from June 22 to August 1. This daylily is one of my all-time keepers. 

AHS Awards:

• ​Stout Silver Medal: 1999 – The highest award a daylily can win
• Award of Merit: 1996
• Honorable Mention: 1993
  
• Annie T. Giles Award: 1996

My experience with Dormant, Semi–Evergreen and Evergreen daylilies in Zone 4
 
Although I grow all three foliage types of daylilies, my western Wisconsin garden is predominantly filled with dormants. Over the years the dormants have thrived the best in our northern climate. Nothing seems to faze them…even a polar vortex. I grow many semi-evergreens that do very well, but I have had much more difficulty growing evergreens. Of the daylilies I would lose each winter, most would be evergreens. So obviously, I am much more cautious when it comes to growing evergreens. With a little extra TLC, like protection by the house or a location by a warm sidewalk or rock border, my six evergreens grow wonderfully and I have had them for many years ––  they include J.T. Davis, Joan Senior, Lotus Position, Mister Lucky, Wings of Chance, and Waxed Legs.

​Foliage habit definitions from the American Daylily Society:

• Dormant/deciduous –In science, dormancy describes the temporary suspension of visible growth of any plant structure containing a meristem. The term “dormant” is not restricted to deciduous plants but also applies when plants that retain some, or all, of their foliage suspend growth and have dormant buds. All daylilies, regardless of registered foliage habit, suspend growth when it gets cold enough.
• Semi–evergreen – The foliage of semi-evergreen daylilies dies back nearly to the ground in very cold climates. Some green will be seen near the base. Generally, semi-evergreens wait until spring to resume growth.
• Evergreen – The foliage habit of daylilies that retain their foliage throughout the year. In cold winter climates, evergreen daylilies over-winter as a mound of frozen pale green foliage. Evergreens may resume growth during a mid-winter thaw in mild climates. Evergreen daylilies do not set resting buds.

Pictured is the dormant daylily Dean Corey

There's a serendipity story about this daylily. About nine years ago in August, Ange  and I attended the Annual Wisconsin Daylily Sale in Madison. Once inside the big daylily tent we both went our separate ways to find the plants on our list. About half-an-hour later we met up to compare notes. Although not on our wish list, each of us had picked up an 'Adorable Tiger' plant and put it in our individual baskets. So it was unanimous; we had no choice but to bring this beautiful daylily home with us and we have enjoyed it ever since!

Hybridized in 1998 by George Rasmussen from Farmingdale (Long Island), New  York, Adorable Tiger is a very showy dormant tetraploid that grows well in Wisconsin. It is  26" tall and  has 5" flowers (bud count:16-20). In my garden it bloomed from July 10 through August 10.

American Daylily Society Awards:

• Award of Merit: 2007 - This award signifies that a cultivar is not only distinctive and beautiful, but also performs well over a wide geographic area.
• Honorable Mention: 2004 - The first official “stamp of approval” by the ADS, where good performance goes beyond the regional level.
• Junior Citation: 1998 - This award was established to focus attention on new cultivars that appear to have outstanding qualities and distinction.
• Don C. Stevens Award: 2008 - The most outstanding eyed or banded daylily.
• President's Cup: 2006 - The most outstanding of all clumps observed by attendees of the National Convention tour gardens.

This sounds like a crazy topic when we're talking about daylilies. Over the years, 99% of my daylilies thrived and grew wonderfully with no pampering whatsoever. In fact, I have given away some beautiful daylilies for the simple fact that they grew *too* fast and it was annoying having to divide them year after year. But let's talk about that one percent of daylilies that no matter what you do will not grow. And I'm talking about daylilies that should successfully grow in your zone.

I visited an online forum and was relieved to see I was not the only person that had experienced  this problem. Some folks said they had bought the same plant three times because they knew people in their zone that grew it successfully. Others moved their plant around numerous times until it was happy. Some folks bought the same plant twice, but the second time they bought it from a different source and the second time the plant did wonderfully.

An issue of concern could be whether the plant is a division or has been tissue cultured. It is always better to purchase from a reliable source that you know are divisions. Tissue culture plants may grow well, but more than likely may not. Blog on tissue culture

Bottom line, with more than 95,000 daylily varieties available I wouldn’t put up with these problems for too long because it is easy enough to find another daylily that is more than willing to grow happily in your garden.

​Pictured: Mississippi Red Dragon, a dormant daylily that was very temperamental for me. I knew other gardeners that grew this plant in my zone with no problem whatsoever. My plant was definitely a division. Go figure?

'Cradle of Bethlehem' had been growing in my front garden for a few years. It was such a beautiful show-off that last fall we moved it up by the house so we could appreciate it more. With its vibrant yellow-green eye and dark purple edges, this daylily glowed in the sun. In a clump it is quite striking.

Hybridized by Elizabeth Shooter and introduced in 2007, this dainty diploid dormant is hardy in Wisconsin. Cradle of Bethlehem grows 26 inches tall with flowers that are 5.5 inches in size. It is a midseason-late bloomer. Last summer, in my garden, it bloomed from July 20 until mid-August when the deer ate all of the remaining flowers and scapes during a weeklong rain.

AHS Awards: Honorable Mention 2010 

Each season 'Chance Encounter' is one of my reliable and prolific bloomers. This lovely raspberry-rose blend really holds its own and earns every bit of its garden space. Chance Encounter was given to me by my friend Carol almost 20 years ago. Over the years I have shared divisions of this beautiful daylily with my friends as well. 

Hybridized by Patrick Stamile in 1994, this dormant tetraploid grows wonderfully in Wisconsin. Although registered at 25 inches tall, my plant grows between 27 and 28 inches. Flowers are 6 inches in size. Last summer, even though the season was shortened due to weather, my daylily bloomed from July 5 to August 6.

This popular daylily has 121 children on record in the daylily database!

American Daylily Society Awards:
Award of Merit: 2001
Honorable Mention: 1998
L. Earnest Plouf Award: 2000