Hemerocallis Fabulous Favourite - Daylily

The Daylily or Hemerocallis 'Fabulous Favourite' impresses with its very large, dark raspberry red flowers, which bloom at the beginning of the daylily season. A bit irregular and languid, they are composed of pleated and satin petals, whose brightness is enhanced by a chartreuse base. This old variety, persistent in mild climates, has a strong personality that deserves to be highlighted in the garden.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the Liliaceae family. They are perennial and hardy plants with deciduous foliage, sometimes semi-evergreen. The 'Fabulous Favourite' variety, introduced in 1968 and several times awarded, grows in a dense tuft that will reach 65 cm in height when flowering, with a relative spread of 50 cm (20in). Daylilies tend to spread a little when they like the soil. The very wide flowers measure about 18 cm (7in) in diameter. The petals of this variety are thick, rigid, pleated, and particularly satin. Each flower lasts only one day, but the flowering continuously repeat flowers over a beautiful period between June and July. The stems are robust and filled with numerous buds. The foliage is linear, dark green, and semi-evergreen to evergreen in mild climates. Daylilies are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate dry soils and salt but are more opulent and floriferous in moist soil.

Very easy to grow, these plants thrive in shade and sun. Some of them can be 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 colors its ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also because of its lack of modesty; it has a beautiful exuberance that goes well with other perennials. Plant them in generous clumps in the background of your flower beds. All summer bulb flowers can be planted alongside daylilies. 'Fabulous Favourite' is a variety with a very bright colour, which pairs well in flower beds with yellow flowers (Hemerocallis citrina), acid green foliage (Alchemilla mollis, Foeniculum vulgare), and will enhance the decor of a red garden, in the company of Achillea millefolium Pomegranate or Knautia macedonia for example. Large pots of at least 30 cm (12in) deep on a balcony or patio should be used, and dwarf varieties should be chosen. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.