Hemerocallis ‘Bess Ross’ (Daylily)

With bright orange-red, starry blossoms delicately curving back and surrounding a golden heart, award-winner Hemerocallis ‘Bess Ross’ is a beauty to fall for. Each flower, up to 3 – 4.5 in. wide (7 – 11 cm), typically lasts no more than 24 hours (thus the common name ‘Daylily’), opening up in the morning and withering during the forthcoming night, possibly replaced by another one on the same scape (flower stalk) the next day. 

• Often called the ‘perfect perennial‘ because of its numerous qualities: showy flowers, drought tolerance, heat stress immunity, ability to grow in most hardiness zones, and low care requirements, this Daylily is a remarkable and stunning addition to the garden.
• Blooming in midsummer, this clump-forming perennial grows up to 36 in. tall (90 cm) and spreads slowly via rhizomes to 30 in. (75 cm). Do not hesitate to mix this lovely Daylily with other varieties to prolong their color blossoms in the garden. Native to Eurasia, Hemerocallis includes over 60,000 registered cultivars, so you have plenty of choices!
• An ideal choice for shrub borders or perennial beds, as ground covers on slopes or in containers near the patio.
• Bred by Elmer Claar in 1951, it won the prestigious Stout Silver Medal award of the American Daylily Society in 1962
• Thrives in full sun or part sun in average, moist, well-drained soils. While it performs well in a wide range of soils, fertile loam is preferred. Tolerates heat and summer humidity, but thorough watering is required to ensure its foliage remains attractive.
• Daylilies attract butterflies and hummingbirds but are toxic to cats. Rabbits tend to avoid daylilies.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for mites, aphids, thrips, or daylily rust.
• The best time to plant Daylilies is in early fall or early spring.
• After flowering, remove spent blooms and seedpods to improve the appearance and encourage rebloom. When all the flowers on a scape are finished, cut off the scape close to ground level. Remove dead foliage from daylilies as they die back in the fall.