Hemerocallis 'Purple Rain'
daylily
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to July
- Hardiness: fully hardy
- Garden care: The Greek term 'hemerocallis' means 'beautiful for a day', and daylilies need regular deadheading to prolong flowering and prevent their unsightly deadheads from dominating the scene. Each stem carries several flowers, so snap off each flower as it fades. When the stem has finished flowering, cut it down to the ground. After the plant has finished flowering altogether, pull out the dead leaves. When the foliage is looking tatty, cut it down to the ground and fresh new growth will appear. Lift and divide every three years in spring to keep the rhizomes vigorous and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Water frequently from spring until the buds appear.
Rich purple flowers with darker throats and ruffled-margined, recurved tepals, appear from early to midsummer. The compact clumps of slender foliage will remain evergreen in milder winters. Like most hemerocallis, it is robust and easy to grow, provided you follow the tips below.
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