Hemerocallis 'ON AND ON' daylily
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Hemerocallis
The genus Hemerocallis comprises roughly fifteen species of perennial herbs in the family Asphodelaceae, native to eastern Asia, where they grow along woodland margins, in grassy valleys and on moist slopes. They are characterised by grass‑like, two‑ranked leaves arising from short rhizomes and by flowering scapes bearing tubular to funnel‑shaped blooms that open for only a single day. This rhythm gave the genus its name: the Greek hemera means day and kallos beauty. The first formal description was published by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), yet several species had been cultivated in China for millennia as medicinal plants and vegetables. Daylilies reached Europe in the sixteenth century, but true breeding progress began only in the twentieth century in the United States, where thousands of cultivars were created with an astonishing range of colours, shapes, sizes and flower types. Modern collections include miniature forms, giant blooms, spider types, doubles and extremely free‑flowering lines that have placed daylilies among the most widely grown perennials in the world.
Daylilies have accompanied people for centuries and have acquired strikingly different meanings across cultures. In China they were valued as medicinal plants and their flower buds – the “golden needles” – are still used in cooking as a delicate vegetable. In Korea they symbolised motherhood and feminine devotion, while in Japan they appear in poetry as an image of transience, opening in the morning and fading by evening. In European gardens they became popular for their reliability, longevity and ability to flower throughout summer with minimal care. And although each bloom lasts only a single day, the plant produces so many that a border appears as a continuously renewed wave of colour. Modern breeding has brought a spectacular array of colours and flower forms, from cream, lemon yellow, apricot, pink, red and wine shades to almost black tones, together with bold edges, bands, veining and ruffled margins that have made daylilies one of the most variable perennials of today. With a touch of humour, yet entirely deservedly, they are also counted among the plants described as “foolproof”, because they survive almost anything even the most inexperienced gardener might do to them.
On And On is a repeat blooming daylily variety, bred and introduced by Fran Harding from the USA in 1994. It bears large, 11-12 cm across, broadly bell-shaped, lightly fragrant flowers in a charming shade of pastel salmon pink with delicate golden hues. They bloom from around mid-June atop 45 cm tall stems, and well-established plants in good conditions re-bloom in August, and in some cases they even bloom non-stop from June through August. The strap-like leaves are wide, medium green, semi-evergreen.
Fran Harding (Francis Privette Harding, 1926-2019) from North Carolina, USA, graduated as a chemist and had many interests, all of which she approached methodically and with real enthusiasm and care. She was an excellent athlete, especially in baseball, and played tennis into her seventies so well that many younger players couldn't keep up with her. She could sing – she had an amazing soprano voice and would sing opera and folk all day through. However, most of her life happened in the garden, and when she brought a microscope and placed it onto the kitchen counter one day, it was clear that everything else would take a back seat. She became a daylily breeder. During her lifetime, she registered 67 recognized cultivars. Among collectors, she is known for her two large series, Forestlake and Wilderness, recognized especially the large-flowered varieties with conspicuously ruffled margins and vibrant colors.
Daylilies thrive in full sun or light partial shade and grow best in deeper, fertile, well‑drained yet consistently slightly moist soils. Thanks to their fleshy roots (rhizomes) they tolerate even prolonged dry periods without damage. They flower most abundantly in sunny positions and when clumps are divided every four to six years, which maintains vigour and prevents congestion in the centre. After flowering, the foliage of some cultivars may look tired, so it is advisable to remove the entire spent scapes and, when needed, the oldest or damaged leaves to maintain a clean appearance and encourage further blooming. Young shoots can be attractive to small shelled slugs, which slightly damage them visually, particularly in moist spring weather. The roots are very hardy in the ground and overwinter reliably even in severe winters; most cultivars tolerate temperatures down to around –40 °C (USDA zone 3). In containers they perform well only in sufficiently large pots with quality substrate, regular watering, feeding and protection from summer overheating, otherwise they dry out quickly and reduce flowering. They are long‑lived, reliable, undemanding and generally free from serious pests and diseases.
Last update 01-02-2025
