Hemerocallis Snowy Eyes - Daylily

Daylily or Hemerocallis 'Snowy Eyes' offers rounded, 9 cm (4 in) diameter flowers in the summer, cream-white with a purple eye and a small pink halo, with very thick, waxy petals that are frizzy on the edges. The throat is a discreet chartreuse-green colour. This intermediate-sized variety deserves a special place in the garden or on the terrace, as its long flowering period is truly dazzling. It is also an easy perennial to grow in well-drained but moist soil.

The Hemerocallis genus belongs to the Liliaceae family. These are  perennial and hardy plants with deciduous and sometimes semi-evergreen foliage. The 'Snowy Eyes' variety grows in a fairly dense clump that will reach 50 to 55 cm (20 in) in height, with a relative spread of 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in). Daylilies tend to spread a little when they like the soil. The flowers are modest in size, but eye-catching. The petals in this variety are wide, thick and wavy, with fairly pronounced undulations on the edges. The creamy white flower opens to a very contrasting dark red halo, washed with purplish-pink on the margin, revealing a small green throat. Each flower lasts no more than a day, but flowering renews continuously over a beautiful period between June-July and August, if the soil remains moist. The stems are sturdy and adorned with well-branched inflorescences. The foliage is linear and dormant. Daylilies are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate drought well, but are more floriferous and more opulent in moist soil.

Very easy to grow, these plants thrive in both shade and sun. Some of them can be slightly invasive, so do not 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 colours and their ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also due to their lack of modesty: they display 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. 'Snowy Eyes' deserves a special place, at the edge of a flower bed, not far from a path or planted in a large pot on the terrace. To enhance it, it can be paired with grasses, paniculate gypsophila, dwarf bamboos, Nandina or white nigellas. On a balcony or terrace, large pots of at least 30 cm (12 in) deep should be used and dwarf varieties should be chosen. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and garnish desserts.