Hemerocallis Calico Jack - Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Calico Jack' is a vigorous, rather early-flowering and beautifully coloured modern variety. Its large, round and generous flowers in bright yellow and purple-brown offer a bold contrast and can be seen from a long way away in the garden. This perennial quickly forms a beautiful clump of leaves that remain attractive in winter. The numerous flowers bloom between June and July.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the family Liliaceae or Hemerocallidaceae according to classifications. These are hardy perennial plants with deciduous, sometimes semi-evergreen foliage. The variety 'Calico Jack', obtained in 1998 by Trimmer, is the result of cross-breeding between the cultivars Fooled Me and Pirate's Patch. It is a tetraploid variety, which means it has a double set of chromosomes, giving it increased vigour and oversized flowers compared to classic diploid varieties. It forms a dense clump that reaches about 71 cm (28in) in height, with a relative spread of 50-60 cm (20-24in). Hemerocallis has a tendency to spread a little when the soil suits them. The flowers measure about 14 cm (6in) in diameter. They are composed of 3 large, rounded and fringed petals, and 3 slightly smaller petals. The large petals are a bright yellow with a large halo of burgundy to bright plum in colour and a border of the same tone. The smaller petals are a pure yellow. The throat is golden yellow. Each flower blooms in the morning, lasts no more than a day, but the flowering period extends between June and July. The floral stems have 3 branches, with 25 flower buds that open successively. The foliage is linear, bright green and evergreen in winter. Hemerocallis are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate dry soils, but are more opulent and floriferous in fresh 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. Hemerocallis is often called the "perfect perennial plant" because of its vibrant colors, its ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also due to its lack of modesty, as it is beautifully exuberant and blends well with other perennials. Plant them in generous clumps at the back of your borders. Summer bulbs (lilies, agapanthus, ixias, etc.) can be planted alongside hemerocallis. 'Calico Jack' is a brilliant variety that can be showcased next to blue, red or yellow blooms. It pairs well with perennial flax, erigerons and chamomiles, for example. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.