Home › The Perennial Garden › The Perennial Garden: Hemerocallis

The Perennial Garden: Hemerocallis

Hemerocallis, Lemon Lily, Yellow Day Lily.

Hemerocallis is a very desirable perennial for the herbaceous garden. It is exceedingly hardy, withstanding the severest winters, and is not often troubled with insect pests. Its flowers come in shades of yellow, and orange, and resemble lilies. The blooming period is during the months of May, June, July and August depending upon the variety. Hemerocallis will grow in any well-prepared garden soil, but the height of its beauty is reached when planted in moist, semi-shady locations. It is propagated by means of division of the old clumps made spring or fall; this work should be done every three years as otherwise the flowers deteriorate in size and number. [64] Varieties. Flava, lemon yellow, June. Aurantiaca, deep orange, July. Fulva, coppery orange, July.

Citrina, lemon yellow, July.

Hollyhock Althaea rosea. The hollyhock is an old-fashioned garden favorite and makes a splendid background for other plants. The blooming period is the last of June and the first of July, and its tall spikes are thickly covered with flowers that come in various shades of pink, crimson, yellow, maroon and white. It can be treated as a perennial or biennial and likes a sunny location in deeply prepared, and very well-drained soil. Heavy, wet land will often cause winter killing, but when the hollyhock is planted in congenial conditions it is perfectly hardy provided some protection is given, after the ground is frozen. The hollyhock is propagated by seeds sown in June or July. If color is no object allow one of the flower spikes to remain untouched until its seed ripens, when it may either be allowed to seed itself or be planted in a seed bed. Seed purchased from a reliable seed firm comes about 70 per cent true to color. Germination takes place in a few days and the young plants will be ready to plant in the garden the following April for bloom in July. It is well to grow new stock, if not annually, at least every three years, as old plants are more likely to rust than young vigorous stock and [65] they become too rank in their habit of growth. Propagation by division is not advisable with the hollyhock owing to its taproot system. Old plants transplant poorly, but when moving is imperative the work is best done in early spring. It is easier to prevent the hollyhock rust than it is to cure it. This disease will not often trouble plants that are congenially located as to soil requirements and planted so that the heart or crown of the plant is on a level with the surface of the ground, or slightly beneath it, never above. Do not let the plants suffer any check in their growth after moving, and during dry spells water thoroughly and cultivate frequently, this will keep them healthy and more able to resist disease. If rust has given trouble in previous years, it is best to discard the old plants, buy new seed and start fresh stock. In the spring spray the plants, new or old, and the soil with Bordeaux Mixture as soon as the growth is a few inches high, repeat this operation in two weeks, and again in another two weeks if the plants look suspicious, spraying the under sides of the leaves with special care. The varieties are classed according to color. Newport pink is a lovely shade of pink. Iris, Fleur de Lis. The German Iris is the best known of the garden irises, it is a very large group containing innumerable varieties and their blooming [66] Courtesy of J. Horace McFarland Company