Wherever you garden, there's a daylily just right for you. Some perform well in all climates—most notably 'Bitsy', a lemon-yellow variety that outblooms any other, flowering up to 290 days a year in mild areas like Southern California and Hawaii.
Others only shine in certain climates. 'Stella de Oro', a deciduous variety, excels in colder areas like Colorado or Montana but doesn't perform well in Southern California.
We surveyed Western growers, landscape architects, nursery staff, and daylily society members to find the star players in their areas.
Winners for All Western Regions
- 'Bitsy' – Lemon yellow. 2-inch flowers, 26-inch scapes, 20-inch leaves; evergreen. 2002 All-American Daylily.
- 'Cranberry Baby' – Rosy red. 2¾-inch flowers, 15-inch scapes, 10-inch leaves; deciduous. Compact habit.
- 'Judith' – Coral pink with rose eye. 5½-inch flowers, 30-inch scapes, 18-inch leaves; deciduous. Heavy bloomer. 2002 All-American Daylily.
- 'Leebea Orange Crush' – Bright orange with darker eye and green throat. 6-inch flowers, 28-inch scapes, 22-inch leaves; semi-evergreen. Fragrant. 2002 All-American Daylily.
Northern California
Any daylilies listed for other regions will do well here.
Coastal Southern California and Hawaii
- 'Dixie Land Band' – True red with white stripes and green throat. 7-inch flowers, 32-inch scapes, 20-inch leaves; evergreen. Takes light shade.
- 'Joan Senior' – Near-white with yellow-green throat. 6-inch flowers, 30-inch scapes, 18-inch leaves; evergreen.
- 'Lavender Dew' – Lavender with green throat. 5½-inch flowers, 28-inch scapes, 18-inch leaves; evergreen. Good repeat bloomer.
- 'Miss Victoria' – Clear yellow. 4-inch flowers, 24-inch scapes, 20-inch leaves; semi-evergreen. Fragrant.
Inland Southern California and Central Valley
- 'Gingerbread Man' – Reddish brown. 6½-inch flowers, 34-inch scapes, 24-inch leaves; evergreen. Very heat tolerant. Good rebloomer.
- 'Lady Eva' – Maroon purple. 6-inch flowers, 32-inch scapes, 24-inch leaves; evergreen. Dramatic color. Reblooms readily.
- 'Lady Scarlet' – Red. 6-inch flowers, 22-inch scapes, 20-inch leaves; semi-evergreen.
- 'Miss Victoria' (see above).
- 'TerraCotta Baby' – Rosy tan. 2¾-inch flowers, 22-inch scapes, 15-inch leaves; evergreen. Blooms generously.
Southwest
- 'Aztec Chalice' – Brilliant velvety red. 5½-inch flowers, 36-inch scapes, 26-inch leaves; evergreen.
- 'Cortez Cove' – Yellow with greenish cast. 4-inch flowers, 28-inch scapes, 18-inch leaves; evergreen. Strong performer.
- 'Gingerbread Man' and 'Lady Eva' (see above).
Pacific Northwest
- 'Frans Hals' – Rusty apricot bicolor. 4½-inch flowers, 26-inch scapes, 20-inch leaves; deciduous. Color deepens in summer, turns pastel in spring.
- 'Joan Senior' (see above).
- 'Pandora's Box' – Near-white with large plum eye. 4-inch flowers, 20-inch scapes, 13-inch leaves; deciduous. Exceptionally hardy.
- 'Pink Playmate' – Pink blend with white ribs and throat. 3½-inch flowers, 22-inch scapes, 12-inch leaves; deciduous. Vigorous.
- 'Smoky Mountain Autumn' – Peachy rose with lavender halo. 5½-inch flowers, 22-inch scapes, 18-inch leaves; deciduous. Fragrant.
Intermountain West
- 'Custard Candy' – Cream yellow with maroon eye. 4¼-inch flowers, 24-inch scapes, 16-inch leaves; deciduous.
- 'Janice Brown' – Pink with rose eye. 4-inch flowers, 22-inch scapes, 16-inch leaves; semi-evergreen.
- 'Lullaby Baby' – Pinkish white with yellow throat. 3½-inch flowers, 18-inch scapes, 14-inch leaves; deciduous.
- 'Stella de Oro' – Yellow gold. 2-inch flowers, 20-inch scapes, 16-inch leaves; deciduous.
- 'White Temptation' – Near-white. 5-inch flowers, 34-inch scapes, 26-inch leaves; semi-evergreen.
