Four Dog Farm

Four Dog Farm

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Evergreen Daylilies that have Thrived in my zone 6a garden

* Note! This post will likely be very boring to all of those except for northern daylilies growers who want to add evergreen daylilies to their gardens.

I buy daylilies from all over the country, including from southern growers. I do this at my own financial peril. There are a few things to worry about when purchasing daylilies from the south when you live in the north:


  • Will it survive both cold temps and frost heave?
  • Will it bring rust into my garden (for the summer)?
  • Will it be the big, bold plant it appears to be in its southern pictures? 
Even when buying from northern nurseries you have be careful. Big hybridizers often have greenhouses, and they will harbor southern plants, and sometimes sell them. Just because you are purchasing from a nursery in say, Minnesota or some other equally cold state, doesn't mean the daylily you are getting is hardy. Anything bred in the south (outdoors) or within a greenhouse (anywhere) may not survive in your garden if you live in the north.

It's so tempting to buy the southern beauties--their patterns are intricate, their ruffles deliciously gaudy, their colors rich. I can't stop myself from buying them, so I thought I'd write a post on what I've learned for those of you less willing to spend a gazillion dollars on daylilies that may not survive where you live.

The following list consists of daylilies by southern hybridizers and/or evergreen daylilies that have survived and actually thrive here, despite their origin. I've only included plants which (I believe) were bred in the south--as in zone 8 or warmer, and also cultivars introduced only since 2000, not earlier. 

Free the Night, Devito, 2012

Bohemia After Dark, Petit, 2000

Popcorn Pete, Petit, 2002

Gary Bewyck, Hansen, 2013

Ageless Beauty, Stamile, 2001

Answering Angels, Stamile, 2006

Fabulous Black Pearl, Salter, 2012

Raspberries and Ice Cream, Salter, 2012

Triple Cherries, Petit, 2005

An Easy Call, Salter, 2008

Kansas City Kicker, Salter, 2005

Sycamore Bandit, Bell, 2011

Corduroy Eyes, Bell, 2010

Sweet Almond Mint, Pierce, 2012

Fifth Order, Marchant, 2014

Unlock the Stars, Petit, 2005

Bandit Bay, Salter, 2009

Swan Lake Candy, Townsend, 2011

How Lovely You Are, Rice, 2006

Chang Dynasty, Stamile, 2007

Tipped in Rouge, Stamile, 2006

White Noise, Trimmer, 2004

Space Coast Southern Belle, Kinnebrew, 2006

Space Coast Firestarter, Kinnebrew, 2002

The Band Played On, Stamile, 2006

Cherry Burst, Trimmer, 2010

Cultural Bias, Salter, 2008

Crowning Fire, Stamile-Pierce, 2011

Evelyn Kloeris, Carpenter, 2004

Cream Cheese Fluffs, Clinard, 2013

Maryzell, Hansen 2006

Ballroom Waltz, Salter, 2002

Calamity Jane, Trimmer, 2008

God Save the Queen, Morss, 2005

Dark Music, Salter, 2005

Wolverine Eyes, Peat, 2005

Celestial Shores, Stamile, 2007

Destined to See, Grace, 1998

Better by Design, Salter, 2009

The Blue Parrot, Trimmer, 2009

Aztec Headdress, Petit, 2002

Pinwheel Princess, Salter, 2010 

Get Jiggy, Stamile, 2008

Though the Looking Glass, Petit, 2001

Sparks Heir to A Kingdom, Taunton, 2013

Sixth Sense, Hemmskerk, 2005

Ellis Powell, Carpenter, 2006

Safety First, Sattelmeier, 2018

Wild Horses, Trimmer, 1999

Gavin Petit, Petit, 2004

Angelic Song, Stamile, 2001

Space Coast Dragon Prince, Kinnebrew, 2002

Space Coast Gator Eye, Kinnebrew, 2000

Inaha Summer, Bell, 2010

Summer in Versailles, Salter, 2005

Merely Mystical, Salter, 2008

Discarded Beauty, Trimmer, 2009

Cotton Candy Sunset, Clinard, 2015

Honey Lips, Shooter, 2007

I will write my next post on daylilies which have not done well here. For now I will just say that I have learned the hard way that cultivars by Waldrop, Harry and DeVito don't do well here as a general rule. There are always exceptions, of course. But those three I've had particularly bad luck with, though I find their daylilies absolutely beautiful. 







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