sally's daylily dozen

8/22/2021

White Eyes Pink Dragon

I challenged my friend Sally to come up with a top twelve list of favorite daylilies from her garden. I thought it would be fun for you to get someone else's take on what grows well in their yard. Sally’s garden is in Wisconsin-Zone 4 so, like me, she needs hardy daylilies that thrive in a northern climate.

Sally's Guest Blog
I am not oblivious to the wonderful attributes of award-winning daylilies that I have seen in other gardens or even grown myself. This group alone could fill up my top twelve. Instead, I wish to offer twelve solid favorites that I have grown for at least three bloom seasons. Some of them may be considered "off the beaten path," older award winners or are uncelebrated, but in my opinion worthy of a "shout out."

My list is in alphabetical order as it was difficult enough to narrow it down to twelve plants. After all, isn't that why we are daylily collectors? We love all of our daylily children...each for a different reason!

Black Falcon Ritual, Hanson, C. - I could go on and on about this one--lovely bloom shape, beautiful dark color-fast blooms on sturdy scapes...A must in my eyes!
Ellis Powell, Carpenter, J. - The huge distinctive blooms of this ruffled gold-edged plant would be enough for me, but the thickness of the blooms is remarkable.
Fountain of Life, Emmerich - This stunning rebloomer produces 64 days of bloom on average in my garden. The scapes are sturdy and the flower, of course, is beautiful with a gold edge.
Malcolm David Brooker, Senior, Brooker - What a striking performer this glow-in-the dark bloomer is. The teeth are incredible and it doesn't hang up when opening.
New Series, Carpenter, K. - I can always count on this plant doing well with 50 plus bloom days in most years. The beautiful unique look it has is unmistakable.
Pork Barrel Spending, Bremer - My first attraction was to the humorous name of this hardy, overachieving plant. Blooming all or more than the registered 8" bloom size and towering at 34+" (registered at 29"), other plants were being blocked so I moved it. Relocation didn't faze it and the striking, huge unusual form blooms continued the next season.
Schnickel Fritz, Kirchhoff, D. - This stunning double is a prolific bloomer/rebloomer. It is one of my first and one of my last to bloom each year.
Two to Tango, Stamile - A prolific bloomer of perfect double flowers. Even though this is a smaller flower, it makes a huge impact in the garden and is easy to deadhead.
Vanilla Fluff, Joiner - This huge cream double will always be in my garden--actually I have two clumps. It never flops over even at its towering 40" height in my garden and it has a wonderful fragrance.
Venus Flytrap, Gossard - I was first drawn to this one because of the name. The dark maroon flowers with a white toothy edge make it a standout. My mature plant bloomed 66 days last year and only stopped because it froze in the fall despite my attempt at covering such a tall bloom. I surround this one with light cultivars of similar height that really show off the beautiful edge: Suzy Cream Cheese, Vanilla Fluff, and Wedding Band.
Wedding Band, Stamile - My mature clump stands up perfectly at almost three feet and provides so much bloom in a color I love. Truly deserving of the awards it has received.
White Eyes Pink Dragon, Gossard - I have not had this plant as long as the others on this list but it is a strong bloomer and the huge flowers, clear color and shape that I love make it a standout at the back of the border.