The best A daylilies 2023
The daylily alphabet for 2023 starts today. This year we are showing our best performers in each letter with maybe a note telling us why you included it. The aim is to help us with new plant selection. Please limit your entries to to five……there will be days when I have one or two……maybe none.
Here is the bad joke of the day: Where do sharks go to vacation? Finland!
Autumn Minaret is the only A daylily that qualifies for me. It blooms in August and in to September for me. With 600 to 800 blooms per season I feel every one should have this daylily.
Sherry
Comments (24)
hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)
last yearHere are my A's and why we value them.
Absolute Ripper is a wonderful flower. It does reasonably well here--not much increase though. The flower is like no other purple that we grow.
Artillery Fire is another unique one. It's probably the biggest tetraploid we grow--registered at 12 inches.
Aaron's Little Whopper is a great small-flowered daylily. It is registered as an evergreen but it does well here.
Auriel Dell is another great small-flowered daylily. It is a robust plant and increases well. It is registered at 2.5 inches, but I don't think the flower on ours is that small.
Here is our Autumn Minaret. I don't love the color, but I like the fact that it blooms when little else does. I also like its height--tall straight scapes with lots of flowers.
That's it for me.Nancy
sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)
organic_kitten
last yearlast modified: last yearLet;s see if I can add a few
Asian Fairy Bluebird: each bloom is a real beauty
Alabama Jubilee: love the brightness
Amethyst Ice Is one of Selman's I have had for a couple of years and I like the delicacy.
Always Lovely is like the energizer bunny os daylilies. It blooms and blooms and bloom
Ancient of Days: another prolific bloomer
There are a few more, but these are probably the best.kay
sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked organic_kittenRelated Discussions
The best D daylilies 2023
Comments (18)We have grown Destined to See for many years, but in the effort to downsize, it will leave the garden this year. I like Diver Down, Dancing Flamingos, Desert Icicle, and Desperate Housecats. Here are a few of our best D's. It was a great year for late bloomers in our garden. By the time they bloomed, the temperatures had moderated somewhat and there was some rain. (June was blisteringly hot and dry). This was Delinquent Doll's second year to bloom and it did not disappoint. It has nice sized flowers and lots of them. It sets seeds too--over 100 last season. Deadliest Catch is another late bloomer. This one is not overly tall (you all know we like them tall), but it is a good parent for us. Double Blazing Busby is new to the garden (planted in 2021, 2022 first year to bloom), but so far it has been impressive. Beautiful full double on a scape with nice height. That's all for me. Nancy...See MoreYour Best E daylilies 2023
Comments (20)I can't comment on the plant habit of Ethereal SC (first year). Its color is a clear lavender, part of Hanson's obsessive quest for purity in that color. Chateau Belair has a bit more orchid tones; it is described as "lilac." I hope that the plant habit of Ethereal is taller than that of Chateau (though at the estate, Chateau is taller than at my residence). El Shaddai is one I would recommend with some notations. Its blooms are less cookie cutter than those of many cultivars, and it is a bit on the short side. Escape Into Fantasy I would recommend. It is heavy blooming, out of Point of Divergence. And I didn't realize that I had missed Existential Avatar. Vigorous and well budded. A bit of a space hog....See MoreBest F daylilies 2023
Comments (28)I love the form and color of Forest God. I hate to hear that about Forever and for Always, the blooms are so pretty. Last year was its 1st bloom season, did not do great but I am pretty sure it rebloomed. I like those pinks, David! Brad, that color on Fiordiligi is so nice. FOREVER REDEEMED looks nice in everyone's pictures. I talk myself out of that one because I have so many of that style. Fire In the Hole, Kay, but my favorite is firecracker Parade. Kate, Flying fox must be so impressive at that size! Fried Green Tomatoes is an impressive grower, isn't it? Mine was 3 years old this year, not sure mine has multiplied quite so well as yours. It has such a long bloom season though, it was a major bud builder this year. Nancy, I have Fiesta Latina here too, and it is a great plant. The only reason I don't post it often, my camera does not capture the color as nice as you see it in person. I agree about Fox Point too, I would have posted that one if I had a picture of it. Debra, Faith That Moves Mountains and Fighting Fire are amazing!...See MoreThe best H daylilies 2023
Comments (18)Brad: Interesting about your Hyperion experience. I've had the same thing happen on other plants. I'd sometimes pass one on to a neighbor after a less then stellar performance in my garden and they would do better for her. Plants, like people, do their own thing.......Sherry: That's a really good picture of Happy Happy. Always enjoy seeing it.......I don't know what Hanson was thinking to name such a pretty daylily after a country that produced The Killing Fields (movie). From what I hear that area is still no walk in the park for many. I prefer High Water Mark which is a very pretty one.........Mantis: Heavenly Dragon Fire is a scorcher. I like it.......Kay: Handwriting on the Wall is a gorgeous clump......Debra: Hoopla would certainly draw attention in bloom.......My only H is Honky Tonk Barbie. It was acceptable this year, but did much better in previous years when the temperature wasn't 104 and up when it bloomed........Maryl...See More
mantis__oh
last yearlast modified: last year"Best" I would be reluctant to say, but here are five good ones. Alabama Jubilee was very good here the past year, with intense color. Ancient of Days Korth later noted was somewhat tender, but has been a good parent for him.
Also Known As. Taller and better budded than parent JT Davis, as well as more northern friendly. But has slower growth habit of parent Great White. Day after day of impressive bloom.
Alone Again --still Curt's best in this color range
Ashwood Rings of Saturn. A prolific earlier bloomer, though not for cold nights.
Abraham Lincoln --well budded and vigorous. I suppose not for those who dislike more pastel colors.
All American Chief. Reliable and showy.
Alan Watts --a good grower of Curt's, though not a taller plant.
sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked mantis__oh
Brad KY 6b
last yearlast modified: last yearWow Sherry! Autumn Minaret really produces! Sounds like it blooms about when my VTs bloom. Nancy, I like the color and design of Amethyst Ice. Mantis, Alan Watts and Alone Again are great colors and forms.
I like the idea of keeping it to ones that are among our best for the letter. Here's 4 that do very well for me. [ps great bad joke!!]
Applique is a nice large one, blooms well. As with many larges, not a ton of blooms but so big it is showy.
Art Gallery Expressionism usually has a ton of buds and lots of scapes.
Acquire the Fire blooms well, doesn't mind the sun at all.
Acclaim, reliable late one.
Bradsherrygirl zone5 N il thanked Brad KY 6bsherrygirl zone5 N il
last yeardaylilybedmaker
last yearMantis, I really like Also Known As. I used to grow JT Davis and it was a moderate increaser with a bud count in the single digits. I just acquired Alone Again this past fall, so I am really anxious to see it in my garden.
Here is my ABSOLUTE RIPPER. The most photographed daylily this past season. Blooms were perfect everyday. They were large and just drew me to it everyday.
AIN'T SHE NICE: An older Stamile. Tall scapes and just a gorgeous shade of pink.
ASHWOOD SUMMER SUNSHINE: Good performer in a poor location.
ANGELIQUE FRINGES: An outstanding Klehm intro. I love the edges on this one. I really need to move it to a better location. It deserves a better spot.
ALPHA AND OMEGA: This will be its second year in the ground. I am already loving it. Each fan put up a scape and I now have 4 fans.
Those are my top 5 for the letter A. I can already see that several other letters will be more challenging to limit.
Davidsherrygirl zone5 N il thanked daylilybedmaker
shive
last yearlast modified: last yearSherry - Autumn Minaret looks especially nice with the hydrangeas!
David and Nan - You both have gorgeous photos of Absolute Ripper. Since you two have posted such nice photos of it, I won't include it in my five, even though it put such a nice show here last season. Here it has multiplied well, but it's never been quite the registered height.
Others posted that drew my attention were Alpha and Omega, Also Known As and Asian Fairy Bluebird.
Aerial Applique is one of my best A's. Last year bud count was down. Most years it reblooms well.
All American Chief is always a showy clump.
Applique was one of my best A's last year. Like most in my garden, bud count was down last year.
Aunt Patsy was new last year, but had 15 buds on the first scapes. Rebloom scapes had 12-14 buds.
Arctic Lace is always one of my favorite near whites.
Debrasherrygirl zone5 N il thanked shive
celeste/NH
last yearlast modified: last yearI've been trying to find time to post....I've been busy selling seeds on the LA....but wanted to join in with my friends. I'll try to keep up! Time got away from me over the summer.
These are my best 'A's:
APACHE WAR DANCE, an oldie but reliable, hardy, profuse bloomer, great color
AWAKEN THE DAWN, so lovely and photogenic, a great plant in my New Hampshire garden
ARNOLD'S DAUGHTER, one of the older Korth's but always loaded with buds and winter hardy
ABBY DAVISSON, great color and size
Apparently I didn't take photos of some that could have filled the final 5 spot. But any one of these would make the cut: Abba, Age of Aquarius and Alabama Jubilee. Great performance, bloom power all.sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked celeste/NHshive
last yearlast modified: last yearHi Celeste! We've missed you! Apache War Dance and Awaken the Dawn look so different in your garden. Here are mine:
Apache War Dance
Awaken the Dawn was very peachy here, so I sent it to Mantis. I wonder if it will look more like yours in his climate.
I hope your seed sales are going well. If you have time, post some photos of your seedlings from 2022.
Debrasherrygirl zone5 N il thanked shivesherrygirl zone5 N il
last year
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
last yearLate to the party but I did laugh at the joke. Sherry Autumn Minaret is definitely one I will watch for. So many beauties here.
Always Afternoon is a great performer here putting on a show for weeks. I really need to divide it though because of congestion. I meant to do it this past summer but it was so hot.
sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario CanadaNancy 6b
last yearAbby Davisson has lovely flowers
Ada Mae Musik did not have a great year last year for flowering, although the flowers were all lovely. It had more blooms the year before. I think this was the 3rd year for it so I was really expecting it to be wonderful, maybe this year
All Fired Up
I liked the color of Allegheny skyline, but it did not survive the summer, unless it surprises me.
Annabel's Blush, I have ;a much better photo of it, but it was taken in sun and looked very orange, not at all the way it should
Arnold's Daughter
sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked Nancy 6bmantis__oh
last yearNice bunch of A's, with a beautiful pic of Abby Davisson and a well-budded clump of Arnold's Daughter. Annabelle's Blush never did well here, but could throw an occasional lovely bloom (on very short stems).
I enjoy A Little Fire, Scarecrow. It can take a picture a bit more vivid than reality, but is not missed in the garden.
sherrygirl zone5 N il thanked mantis__oh
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)