7 Hemerocallis for Exotic Garden

Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider'

The Hemerocallis ‘Ruby Spider’ is the queen of exotic daylilies. Just look: an immense flower measuring 22 cm with a ruby red dress, infused with orange-yellow and a bright yellow throat, wider than in other varieties. Star-shaped, the petals are soft and recurved. The plant reaches 80 cm in all directions and blooms in the heart of summer, in July and August.
It naturally finds its place in an exotic scene, surrounded for example by the large leaves of Gunnera manicata, the round, blue-tinged leaves of Hosta ‘Canadian Blue’, the colourful leaves of Canna ‘Red Wine’ (frost-sensitive below -5°), punctuated by the small yellow flowers of Crocosmia crocosmiflora ‘Buttercup’.

Hosta ‘Canadian Blue’, Canna ‘Red Wine’, Hemerocallis ‘Ruby Spider’, Gunnera manicata, Crocosmia crocosmiflora ‘Buttercup’

Hemerocallis 'El Desperado'

The Daylily ‘El Desperado’ has character and an unusual colour. On a plant measuring 70 cm in all directions at maturity, flowers of approximately 12 cm with crinkled, rounded petals bloom at the end of the season in August and September. The colour is a bright yellow with a wine-hued halo edged in red, which appears as a trim on the petal borders. This original variety has been awarded by the American Hemerocallis Society.

This assertive daylily can be planted in partial shade and in cool soil alongside a Astilboides tabularis with large leaves, a Rodgersia pinnata ‘Bronze Peacock’ with bronze leaves, a Cimicifuga ‘Carbonella’ with its fragrant flowering, a Cosmos x Dahlia ‘Mexican Star’ with its velvety colour, and a Bergenia ‘Bach’ with thick, glossy leaves.

Cimicifuga carbonella, Daylily ‘El Desperado’, Astilboides tabularis, Cosmos x Dahlia ‘Mexican Star’, Bergenia ‘Bach’, Rodgersia pinnata ‘Bronze Peacock’

Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight'

‘Burning Daylight’ is a very bright daylily, measuring 70 cm in all directions with single flowers of 12 to 15 cm. It displays its fragrant flowering from July to September. The petals are light orange, plicate and undulate. The flower has a bright yellow throat and midrib, with a glowing halo.

It is showcased here in a warm and exotic scene accompanied by Kniphofia citrina and ‘Yellow Queen’ cinquefoil, yellow ‘Moerheim Beauty’ helenium with coppery flowers, and Tropaeolum tuberosum, the tuberous nasturtium, grown as an annual in our climates.

Daylily ‘Burning Daylight’, Tropaeolum tuberosum, Kniphofia citrina, ‘Yellow Queen’ cinquefoil, ‘Moerheim Beauty’ helenium

Hemerocallis 'Frans Hals'

Sincerely bicoloured, the Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’ is quite original. Three red-purple petals with yellow midribs and three yellow petals give it a rather geometric appearance. Very dynamic, its heart is yellow, and its undulating petals are quite fine. The plant forms a clump 70 cm high with a spread of 60 cm, and its flowers are relatively small, measuring 9 cm. It blooms from July to September.

Here, it is surrounded by exotic foliage such as the dwarf banana Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, the graphic Cordyline ‘Electric Star’, the Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ with its purple hue, and the Gaillardia ‘Kobold’ whose colour resembles that of the Hemerocallis.

Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, Gaillardia grandiflora ‘Kobold’, Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’, Cordyline ‘Electric Star’, Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’

Hemerocallis 'Crimson Pirate'

Very elegant, the Hemerocallis ‘Crimson Pirate’ evokes refinement with its Chinese red colour and elongated petals. It is marked by a dark brown halo and illuminated by an orange throat. The plant flowers late, in August and September. It reaches a height of 70 cm and a width of 50 cm at ripeness.

It can be planted in partial shade and in cool soil alongside Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions’, a Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens, a Crocosmia ‘Sunglow’, and a Ligularia przewalskii.

Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions’, Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens, Crocosmia ‘Sunglow’, Ligularia przewalskii, Hemerocallis ‘Crimson Pirate’

Hemerocallis 'Destined To See'

The Daylily ‘Destined to see’ is certainly not to be overlooked, as its name suggests. It features a beautiful acid green throat, with a violet halo that continues as a border on the crinkled petals, set against a creamy white background. The fragrant flowers, measuring about 14 cm, bloom from June to August on a plant that reaches 75 cm in height and has a relative spread of 50 cm. It is undoubtedly an attractive and endearing variety.

Plant it surrounded by beautiful climbing plants such as Clematis viticella ‘Royal Velours’ and Trachelospermum jasminoides. A Physocarpus opulifolius ‘All Black’ with its black foliage and fragrant bulbs of Abyssinian Gladiolus complete this sophisticated ensemble.

Trachelospermum jasminoides, Daylily ‘Destined To See’, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘All Black’, Abyssinian Gladiolus, Clematis viticella ‘Royal Velours’

Hemerocallis 'Moonlight Masquerade'

The Hemerocallis ‘Moonlight Masquerade’ is a lovely variety of Daylily with its triangular and contrasting flowers. Wavy petals in cream tinged with melon, broad and rounded, with a chartreuse throat and a dark purple halo. This describes its elegant flower. The plant measures 70 cm in all directions, and the flowers are about 15 cm in diameter. It blooms in June and July.

Grow it, for example, in partial shade alongside an Acanthus mollis ‘Latifolius’, a Hosta fortunei ‘Patriot’, and an Astrantia major ‘Alba’ that delicately punctuates the ensemble. A Martagon Lily ‘Claude Shride’ echoes the Hemerocallis, completing this collection tableau.

Hemerocallis ‘Moonlight Masquerade’, Hosta fortunei ‘Patriot’, Martagon Lily ‘Claude Shride’, Acanthus mollis ‘Latifolius’, Astrantia major ‘Alba’