Daylilies In The Garden

Although there is nothing grander than the sight of a bed or border devoted entirely to Daylilies many will prefer to mingle them amongst other plants and perennials especially in todays smaller gardens where space might not allow for an area devoted entirely to them. The Hemerocallis has been a classic constituent of the Herbaceous border for over a century so it should come as no surprise that they have much to add and adorn to any mixed planting but equally inevitably some combinations work better than others. You could write an entire book on the subject but this article aims to give some good combination idea’s and advice on planting with Daylilies in mind, tasking into account colours which work together but also form, style and habit of companion plants, not to mention flowering season.

Associate plant and flower form

I usually feel that contrast is better than similarity – for example plants with more upright and narrow/spire shaped flower heads tend to emphasise the more rounded flower form of the Daylily. Similarly in foliage and habit bolder foliage often works well against the narrow fountain like foliage of Hemerocallis. So too is the flowering period – it’s no use selecting plants of an appropriate colour that may flower earlier or later than the Daylilies which tend to be at their peak from late June and through July. Bearing this in mind when selecting planting companions will go a long way towards ensuring your display looks it’s very best.

Working with colours

Purple and darker shades

There are many, many Daylilies in this colour spectrum and in can add a dramatic and rich colour palette to any area.

The more circular flower form of varieties like Olive Bailey Langdon, Enchanted Evening and Starling look at their very best with the coneflowers [Echinacea] The stronger growing purple ‘Magnus’ grows to around 30” and flowers for a very long time. The original species Echinacea purpurea is also well worth considering. For a more vibrant feel the narrow upright spires of Lythrum salicaria ‘Robert’ makes for a stunning look with it’s dashing cerise purple flowers. Hardy Geraniums, especially the more robust growers like Russell Pichard also work very well with it’s massed profusion of smaller flowers born over a long period.

Complimentary foliage is also an important consideration and the classic Hosta’s with their substantial foliage offer a wide range in complimentary blue ands grey hues which look great with Daylilies in the purple shades. Seek out medium to tall growers like ‘Krossa Regal’ Blue Mammoth and Halcyon’ The upright lilac coloured flower stems also work well with the bolder flowers of the Daylily so you get double value. Hosta’s are also great with the narrower outlines of Daylily ‘Yabba Dabba Do’ ‘Purple Waters’ and ‘Roger Grounds’

For a complete contrast I like to use the lower silvery felt like hummocks of Stachys lanata and it’s varieties, it looks a real treat with Daylilies in the purple colour spectrum and really highlights the darker colours.

Whites and creams

Whether planning a traditional white garden or have a liking for the many cool and dreamy creamy white varieties available you have plenty to choose from; from garden classic varieties like Gentle Shepherd and Joan Senior to the more modern rounded Glacier Bay and Spacecoast Whiteout or the amazing spider types like Dessert Icicle beauties in this colour spectrum abound. This is probably the easiest shade spectrum to associate with; everything goes with white, right? Maybe but with some thought you can elevate them to even greater beauty.

One of the best plants to choose with any white flower is the perennial form of Gypshophila – Gypsophila paniculata. Often used in floral bouquets the perennial garden version has a much branched airy feel with a multitude of tiny white flowers which will intermingle with larger more glamorous blooms – to charming effect. I like to use it a lot.

Echinacea White Swan is another that I like to use frequently and is also a magnet for bees and butterflies.

Flowers in the blue spectrum also work particularly well. Agastache Foeniculum with it’s narrow short spired and strongly aromatic foliage is a joy as are the many Veronicas which also have a very upright habit and narrow flower spikes at intervals throughout the summer. And don’t forget the impressive Agapanthus with it’s large globe shaped flower heads and strappy leaves.

Once again Hosta’s are oft used and there is a great range of glaucous blue and grey foliaged varieties and the lavender flowers also complement the white Daylilies. Another important plant group used primarily foer foliage are the Heucheras. There are plenty with silvery foliage but I especially like to use Palace Purple and Plum Pudding with white Daylilies – a great contrast.

Yellow and orange shades

Although sometimes much maligned in the garden yellow undeniably adds a cheerful burst of sunshine to the garden border. Tempered with rustic gold and ochre to amber will add a warm floral glow to the bed or border. Daylily ‘Bakabana’ must be included in any collection as it is so astonishingly free and long flowering and features a very rich shade of yellow. ‘Happy Returns’ blooms on and on all summer and is my top selling smaller flowered variety. The classic award winning ‘Cartwheeles’ always looks good in the border and then you have newer varieties like the double Longfields Maxim as well as old timer, the sweetly fragrant graceful ‘Hyperion’

Achillea’s are an important plant group we haven’t mentioned yet and are especially useful in this colour range. ‘Terracotta’ and ‘Walther Funcke’ have especially lovely colouring as does the perennial classic ‘Moonshine’ which also has rather greyish foliage. Achilleas have flat plate like flower heads which contrast nicely with Daylily flowers, their neat and tidy habit and filigree foliage is also complimentary.

Hostas with golden foliage lend themselves very well in a yellow gold and orange theme. Look out for Birchwood Parky Gold, Moonshine and the bigger architectural Zounds.

But best of all perhaps are the gloriously rustic amber gold and ruby Heleniums – so reliable in the garden with straight stems of bee attractive flowers each with that characteristic dark centre replete with golden pollen. A joy.

Fiery reds

Perhaps the most difficult colour spectrum to work with but there are plenty of options to elevate the dramatic red shaded Daylilies. One of the best associate plants is the perennial hardy Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff with it’s dramatic dark foliage and ruby red flowers both of which work very well with Daylilies like Highland Lord, Crimson Pirate and Autumn Red.

Foliage plants such as Heuchera Plum Pudding and Obsidian, both of which have smoky alluring purple foliage set them off to a tee. I have used these with Datlily ‘Red Rum’ to very good effect indeed. Another which surprisingly works very well is a variety called ‘Greenfinch’ if you can get it, the foliage is verdant green and it has taller misty flower stems of green – which serves to emphasise and temper the vivid stronger red shades of the Daylily. And for something a bit more daring how about the aforementioned Stachys lanata with tactile silvery foliage hummocks it works!

No mention of a red themed flower border could be complete without the dazzling Crocosmias which set alight any such flower scheme. ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Red Ensign’ are particularly good.

Heleniums Rubinzwerg and Moerheim Beauty and the rustic Wyndley also work very very well with any Daylilies in the red shades, in particular the floriferous ‘Anzac’

Ravishing pinks

It used to be said that there were no true pink Daylilies but that notion has long since been banished with any number in the shades of blush, rose, appleblossom and coral. From newer varieties like Chance Encounter and Pacific Moon to garden and border classics such as Pink Damask and Luxury Lace, as well as plum and rosy eyed pinks like Strawberry Fields Forever and the more pastel toned eyed Janice Brown. ‘Final Toich’ also deserves mention with it’s rich pure pink flowers, it is, as the name would suggest, a later flowering variety so of great value in the border.

Perennial plants which work well with this colour spectrum include the aforementioned Heucheras in the deeper foliage colour range of purple and slate.

Softer pink Hemerocallis varieties can team very well with the stronger shades of Lythrum ‘Robert’ in cerise and the magenta hardy Geranium ‘Patricia’ or ‘Orkney Cherry’ which flowers for a long time.

And another combination which works very well is the blue and grey hued Hosta’s such as Halycon and Blue Cadet. Again the lilac flower stems tone in well too.

Achilleas with their flat plate like flower heads associate and contrast very nicely. My favourites in the pink and lavender shades are ‘Pretty Belinda’ and ‘Lilac Beauty’

Lastly consider border Phlox [Phlox paniculata] of which there are many in the softer pink and lilac shades.

Associating with spider type Daylilies

The idiosyncratic graceful narrow, twisting and twirling outline of the Spider group makes them very easy to work with in the border and they lend a dramatic but airy feel to any area. They do tend to be that bit taller than the fuller formed varieties of Daylily making them suitable for mid way in a mixed border.

The number one plant which I think works especially well with them is the myriad ornamental grasses – currently the darlings of the professional Garden Designer. The oatmeal, bronze and gold shades of those misty seed heads and graceful foliage is the ideal foilage. There are many varieties of Stipa, Deschampsia and Pennisetum to look out for.  The ornamental grasses also add long season interest well into Autumn and Winter when the Daylilies have finished.

A special mention should be made here for Verbena bonariensis – one of THE classic plant association perennials and one which works especially well with the many spider type Daylilies with it’s long succession of open clustered purple flower heads. Team it with ‘Yabba Dabba Do’ – a classic combination!

Working with small and miniature flowered varieties

The same principals apply but it is necessary to select smaller growing plants that match and don’t overpower visually or physically.

One combination I like to use, and one which perhaps may surprise is with companion planting of Garden Pinks [Dianthus allwoodii] These work very well at the foot of smaller growing Hemerocallis. There are many such varieties, all with evergreen greyish foliage. The range of pink coloured varieties, such as darker eyed Monica Wyatt, peachy apricot Widecombe Fayre and true pink Valda Wyatt looks great next to Daylilies like Mini Pearl, Everdaylily Rose and Rosy Returns. But there are plenty more in shades of red, purple and white so there is a wide selection to go with Daylilies of different shades. Plus they provide a long season of fragrant cutting material.

Hostas again are iconic companion plants and there are several very small growers. Look out for blue shaded ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ diminutive ‘Minuteman’ and sunny leafed ‘Golden Edger’

Compact grasses also abound; Hackenochloa macro aurea, Festuca glauca and it’s varieties and Uncinia rubra won’t overpower and give lasting interest.

Going back to the esteemed Hardy Geraniums, dwarfing hybrids like Ballerina, Orkney Cherry and the sanguineum varieties all feature low mounded habit and a long show of flowers.

Hopefully this article has given you some useful ideas but we all have different tastes so don’t be afraid to experiment with your own combinations – and let me know what works for you!