Hemerocallis Barbara Mitchell - Daylily

Hemerocallis Barbara Mitchell is a delightful variety with a compact habit, with large candy pink flowers, perfect in their fleshy roundness, very frilled along the edges, centred on a small yellow throat that turns green in the middle. Its pastel and endearing flowering lasts throughout the summer, accompanying other blooms, never tiring the eye. This fabulous little daylily will work wonders in sunny or partially shaded borders, among wildflowers. Also adorable on the patio or balcony!

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the family Liliaceae. These are hardy perennial plants have deciduous foliage which is sometimes semi-evergreen. The variety 'Barbara Mitchell', introduced in 1984, is a reliable choice, a floriferous plant highly resistant to diseases. It grows fairly quickly, forming a dense clump that will reach 45-50 cm (18-20in) in height when flowering, with a relative spread of 50 cm (20in). Daylilies tend to spread a bit when they like the soil. The flowers, large in relation to the compact stature of the plant, measure about 15-16 cm (6in) in diameter. The shape of this flower is perfect, round without being heavy, slightly ruffled, with a great softness. Its pearly pink colour fading to salmon pink is magnified by the iridescent and embossed texture of the petals. Each flower lasts no more than a day, but the flowering continuously renews from June-July to September. The foliage is 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 little invasive, so don't hesitate to divide the clumps every four or five years, preferably in autumn, after flowering. Daylilies are often called "the perfect perennial plant", due to their vibrant colors, their ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also because of their lack of modesty, they have a beautiful exuberance that blends well with other perennials. Plant them generously at the back of your borders. Summer bulbs can be planted alongside daylilies. 'Barbara Mitchell' will fit perfectly into the setting of a country or romantic garden, with daisies, pink echinaceas, penstemons, perennial delphiniums, purple heucheras or hastate verbenas 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.