Classic Daylilies sampler    

Sampler

With cottage-garden grace and surprising diversity, antique daylilies are waiting to be rediscovered by modern gardeners. Sample their old-fashioned charms with 3 of our favorites, all different, labeled, and great for your area. (Several possibilities are pictured.) For zones 4a-8b(9aWC).

For more of each variety, order additional samplers. Daylily care.

August Pioneer daylily     1939

Our longest blooming daylily, ‘August Pioneer’ opens its bright, graceful trumpets for up to eight weeks. Its color is something special, too, a softly glowing orange with hints of apricot that blends in harmoniously yet will draw you across the garden. And it multiplies quickly. All in all, it’s a masterpiece from A.B. Stout, the patriarch of daylilies. 34”, mid-late, deciduous, 3-4 fans, zones 4a-8b(9bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Bette Russell daylily     1956

Excellent bloomer ‘Bette Russell’ brings rich lemony-yellow accents to the summer garden. Unusually for a daylily, her flowers are open in the evenings, welcoming you home at the end of your day! 36”, early-mid, 3-4 fans, 4a-8b(10bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Challenger daylily     1949

Rarest

This dramatically tall, colorful daylily will draw your eye from the farthest reaches of your garden. It gets its height – five feet or more here – from H. altissima, native to the mountains of Nanjing, and with 25-30 buds per stem, its striking red flowers will entertain you from mid-summer into fall. By A.B. Stout, 48-72”, deciduous, 2-3 fans, zones 4a-8b(10bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Evelyn Claar daylily     1949

One of the best of the ground-breaking mid-century pinks, ‘Evelyn’ is a warm, peachy-pink highlighted by a glowing, golden throat. Free-flowering and vigorous, it was bred by University of Chicago botany professor Ezra Kraus – who clearly knew what he was doing. 24-30”, early-mid, deciduous, 3-4 fans, zones 4a-8b(10aWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Gertrude Condon daylily     1956

Golden-orange ‘Gertrude’ is as refreshing as an orangesicle or a cool slice of cantaloupe with 5” blossoms that positively glow even on cloudy days! 28”, early-mid, 3-4 fans, zones 4a-8b(10bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Marse Connell daylily     1952

This exuberant daylily is one of our favorite reds. We like its long, pointed petals, its big, bright, star-like center, and that breeder Hooper Connell of Baton Rouge named it for his grandfather. 34-38”, mid-season, evergreen, 3-4 fans, zones 4a-8b(10bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Melonee daylily     1959

With a name that’s pure 1950s, this luscious daylily looks like a cool, refreshing cantaloupe and ice cream smoothie. It was bred by Orville Fay of Illinois whose day job was working as a chemist in a candy factory. Just 30” tall, mid-summer blooming, deciduous, 3-4 fans, zones 5a-8b(10aWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Purple Waters daylily     1942

60 years ago this tall, dark-red/burgundy daylily caused ripples with its long elegant petals and vigorous growth. It contrasts beautifully with yellow and gold neighbors and can rebloom throughout the summer. 36”, early-mid, 2-3 fans, zones 4a-8b(10bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Winsome Lady daylily     1964

A fetching blush pink with a green throat, ‘Winsome Lady’ was voted by the American Daylily Society in 1974 the best performer over a wide geographic area. Her subtle fragrance only adds to her appeal! 24”, early, 3-4 fans, zones 4a-8b(10bWC), from Missouri. Chart and care.

Black Friar daylily     1951

It’s Back!

With its velvety, wine-dark petals, chartreuse throat, and graceful, lily-like form, ‘Black Friar’ is one of the best of the mid-century “black” daylilies. Tall and vigorous, it was bred by the first woman to win the AHS’s top award for hybridizing, “Sun-Proof” Mary Lester of Georgia. 32-38”, mid-to-late, deciduous, 2 fans, zones 4a-8b(10aWC), from Michigan & Missouri. Chart and care. Last offered in spring 2023. If you’d like to be notified when it’s back in stock, click here to sign up for an email alert.