Hemerocallis Baby Betsy - Daylily

Hemerocallis Baby Betsy is a surprisingly small variety with elegant vigour. It has deep fuchsia pink flowers with a discreet lemon yellow throat. Each petal and sepal is marked with a red central halo and delicately edged with cream-pink. It blooms at the beginning of the daylily season and for a long period. This perennial is a gem for summer, magnificent in borders and perfect in a romantic setting. It is easy to grow, even in pots, for many years.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the Liliaceae family. They are perennial and hardy plants, with deciduous foliage, sometimes semi-evergreen. The 'Baby Betsy' variety grows in a fairly dense clump that will reach 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20in) in height, with a relative spread of 50 cm (20in). Daylilies tend to spread a bit when they like the soil. The flowers are slightly fragrant, of modest size, measuring about 6.5 cm (3in) in diameter, but with a perfect shape and a thick texture. The petals in this variety are thick, very wide, and distinctly curved backwards. Each flower lasts only a day, but the flowering continuously renews between early June and July, then again at the end of summer. The stems are sturdy and adorned with numerous buds. The foliage is abundant, bright green, linear, and semi-evergreen. Daylilies are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate dry soils but are more opulent and floriferous in moist soil.

Very easy to grow, these plants thrive in both shade and sun. Some of them can be a bit invasive, so don't hesitate to divide the clumps every four or five years, preferably in autumn, after flowering. The daylily is often called 'the perfect perennial', because of its vibrant colours, its ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also due to its lack of modesty/  It is beautifully exuberant and blends well with other perennials. Plant them in generous clumps in the back of your beds. Summer flowers can be planted alongside daylilies. 'Baby Betsy' will fit perfectly into a romantic garden, with bellflowers, penstemons, perennial flaxes, or phlox by its side. On a balcony or patio, large pots of at least 30 cm (12in) in depth should be provided and dwarf varieties should be chosen. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.