Ten Best Pink Daylilies –
PRETTY IN PINK
Whether you’re planning a pink border or it just happens to be your favourite colour, hopefully this will help you decide from the plethora of varieties available. Many, many years ago, it used to be said that there were no ‘true’ pink-flowered Hemerocallis, but that’s certainly changed with any number of varieties covering the full spectrum. From the prettiest appleblossom pinks, through deeper true rose, to near cerise, apricot blush, ribbon pinks – they are all well represented in every class, large flowered, miniature, spider, double, you name it.
Working with pinks in the border
It’s a very harmonious colour range, so there are plenty of options when complementing planting schemes with Daylilies. Of course, you might wish to have a bed or border devoted entirely to Daylilies, and nothing could be lovelier. But if you want to offset them with other plants here are a few recommendations.
Amongst hardy herbaceous perennials, the border Phlox – Phlox paniculata must top the list as they predominate in many shades of pink through lavender to near purple, all of which will work well. Old favourites like ‘Bright Eyes’, ‘Cinderella’, and Eva Cullum are very much standbys, and ‘Laura’ with its soft lilac lavender shades is very lovely.
Gaura lindheimeri I’ve always felt looks nothing much on its own, but it can be a good foil for larger showier blooms, its small flowers with long anthers open white but have a decided pink blush un bud. It is quite upright with slender stems, so the contrast in form is a benefit as well.
Hardy Geraniums are such a border indispensable that they hardly need introduction, and as the plant breeders have been so busy with this group, there are countless combinations in plant stature and colour to choose from. Just make sure you select those that flower a bit later rather than the earlier May/June varieties and species, as these will be over by the time the Daylilies begin.
One of my personal favourite planting combos with pink-flowered Hemerocallis is the Lythrum family [Loosestrife], the tall, narrow flower panicles come in vivid shades of pink and cerise that work extraordinarily well with lighter coloured pink Daylilies.
Had you thought of Daylilies planted amongst shrub roses? Looks very, very lovely and older shrub roses tend to predominate in plummy shades and old-rose pink, the choice of companion is very wide.
Another shrub that can look well is the smaller growing Hydrangeas in the round-headed and lacecap forms, especially I feel the latter.
Pink Daylilies – my top 10 picks.
10. Rose
This is such an astonishing performer, so laden with flowers over many weeks, together with its well-saturated deep rose pink colouring, it just had to be included. This variety was raised in 1984, is mid-season flowering with 26” stems and flowers which are 6” across.
9. Final Touch
A faithful late bloomer that continues into August with deep pink flowers enhanced by a vivid green throat. It is unquestionably one of the best of all lates. Being that bit later a great combination is to plant with the ‘Blue Spiraea’ Caryopteris Heavenly Blue. With it’s aromatic greyish leaves and powder blue flowers produced in August it looks great with this variety. Final Touch is a little taller with stems around 30” high, flowering late season with flowers 4.5” across. It was introduced in 1991.
8. Elegant Candy
A change of tempo with it’s lighter soft pink flowers enhanced by a rose eyezone. It has the added benefit of fragrance and, in common with all the esteemed ‘Candy’ series is a great performer over all climates. The flowers of Elegant Candy are 4.5” across but appear larger due to the full form. It’s stems are typically 25” high and it blooms early-mid season. Introduced in 1995.
7. Be My Girl
Rounded cream with a touch of apricot and a stunning rose pink eye and matching edge. A newer variety with great form and a long bloom season which is early-mid beginning. Flower stems are 24” tall and the flowers 5” across. Introduced in 2007.
6. Chance Encounter
If you love pink this will quickly go to the top of your list and is already proving immensely popular with it’s large full-formed flowers and tremendous deeply saturated colour. Early-mid season flowering, the blooms are a generous 6” across. Typically flowers at around 25”, registered in America in 1994.
5. Rosy Returns
A small mini variety with tremendous flower power and soft light rose pink colouration. It is fine near the front of the border or on the patio. Another top seller, and it starts to flower early in the season with reliable repeat blooming character. Just had to make this list. Flower stems are just 16” tall, flowers 3.5” across. Very early season to start flowering, introduced 1999.
4. Mini Pearl
Such a satisfactory garden Daylily making a tidy clump of good dark foliage with the flowers at ideal height just over it. The flowers are a soft apricot-pearl blend and appear over a llong season. Mini Pearl is famous within the small flowered class and rightly so. Although it only flowers once during mid-season it does so for a long time with flowers appearing on 14” stems. They are 3” across and the variety was raised in 1982.
3. Siloam Double Success
One of the most famous doubles of all time – and it’s a lovely shade of light ribbon pink. The form is so consistently beautiful and this together with a soft fragrance and light, luminous colour has ensured enduring affection. The flowers are 4.5” across, camellia form, produced on 21” stems during early-mid season.
2. Heavenly Pink Butterfly
Of the exotic class in my estimation this is the most beautiful of all. With it’s classical recurved form, fascinating eyezone and two tone pink and rosy plum colouring it is breathtaking. Rather taller so shows well in the centre or rear of the border which makes it very useful. Stems are up to 49” high, flowers 6” across and blooms during mid season.
1. Taos
Here she is – my favourite girl in the Daylily garden. Taos has it all with superb form, porcelain texture, fragrance, strong stems, lots of big fat buds and the most enchanting light soft shell pink over cream colouring. Never well known and deserving of far more attention so here is the number one on my list of the best pink Daylilies. Taos has stems which are 24” tall with flowers a good 6” across. Bloom season is early-mid.
Hopefully you are now feeling inspired to create your very own patch of pretty-in-pink Daylilies. Thanks for reading!
John.
Swallowtail Daylilies.