Elegant daylilies

I recently turned down an offer of free 'Stella de Oro' daylilies. It pained me to do so #1 because I'm frugal by nature, #2 because I LOVE plants--especially free ones (see reason #1), and #3 because I'm afraid that my refusal might come off as rejection and I'd never want to hurt anyone's feelings.

But the truth is, I just don't like most daylilies. Sure they are reliable and easy-care perennials, but their hybridized flowers look awkward and clunky to me. Something about them just seems artificial.

Over the years I have found a couple of daylilies that have simple, elegant flowers and I now grow them both. One is the old-fashioned lemon lily (Hemerocallis flava) and the other, given to me by a friend, is Autumn Minaret.

Hemerocallis flava

Flava is a species daylily that was brought to America in colonial days. It blooms early (usually May) and in quite a bit of shade in my garden. Its soft yellow flowers are simple and straightforward -- no recurved or frilly petals. And its mild lemon fragrance is a delight.

Autumn Minaret

Autumn Minaret is a cross between H. altissima and H. fulva. At 6 feet high, it's one of the tallest daylilies and also a late bloomer, just revealing its golden petals last week. I'm told that it will continue now until frost and that also makes it one of the longest blooming daylilies. I just know that its regal blossoms look spectacular framing my kitchen window.