Illustrative photo.
Hemerocallis 'HAPPY RETURNS' daylily
size/type
mid-sized perennial,mid-sized perennial
usual height
0,4-0,5m
usual width
0,5-0,8m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-August
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
dry or damp, but with good drainage
USDA zone (lowest)
3 (down to -40°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Hemerocallis
Daylilies are flowering queens for one day. Each bloom lasts a day but there is no need to worry – every stem bears more blooms and as the plants grow older they have numerous stems each. This low-maintenance perennial is a miracle for those who have limited time to spend looking after their gardens because apart from occasional watering on hot and dry summer day it needs ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And still it can leave us gazing at their beautiful, lily-like blooms of every possible colour you can think of (except for blue and black).Description of the plant:
Happy Returns daylily lives up to its name. It’s a bit of a pun, as it contains a part of the English birthday wish phrase "Many happy returns of the day", wishing the person many returns to this date in future years. Here, it refers to returns within one summer, as it is a reblooming variety. It is early and shows the first flowers in the first half of June and then at least twice during the summer. Its flowers are medium large, about 8 cm across, lightly fragrant, broadly bell-shaped, bright yellow with lemon hues. Its petals are wide and adorned with striking ruffles at margins. One stem can hold 10-15 flower buds on mature plants. The leaves are wide, medium green, strap-like, arching, and deciduous. Happy Returns is a cross between Suzie Wong and Stella de Oro.This variety was bred and introduced in 1986 by Darrel Apps of Centerton Nursery in Bridgeton, New Jersey, USA. He made his first daylily cross in 1969 and, like many others, strives to combine the qualities of southern species and varieties with the hardiness of northern ones to create plants that would reliably thrive in locations where daylilies are at the edge of their hardiness zones and, most importantly, bloom for more than 2 weeks. Among many others, in collaboration with Danny Blew he introduced the entire Happy Ever Appster® series, with varieties which can bloom at least three times during the summer, which is completely unique for daylilies. He retired in 2007 but continued with his breeding work to this day, he has developed over 450 cultivars.
The leaves are deep green, strong and healthy. They appear early in the spring and persist until winter unlike spring bulbs whose leaves wither away after flowering. Apart from occasional slug attack there are no pests or diseases they would suffer from. Put your day lilies on a sunny spot and fertilize it for better flowering every spring, if you want to. It tolerates all types of soil, preferably it likes moist soil. Very hardy to min. -37 °C (USDA zone 3).
Last update 01-02-2025
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