Hemerocallis Hundredth Anniversary - Daylily

The Daylily or Hemerocallis 'Hundredth Anniversary' beautifully closes the daylily season: its large, fleshy flowers display a magnificent lavender pink colour washed with fuchsia and finely veined with purple-fuchsia, solid and very bright, which appears sprinkled with pale sparkles. The flower's small centre is a chartreuse green. This variety blooms quite late but offers a few more flowers at the end of the season. Its bright green fountain-like foliage is elegant. It is a problem-free perennial, guaranteed to succeed in ordinary but fertile and not too dry soil.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the family Liliaceae. They are  hardy perennial plants with deciduous, sometimes semi-evergreen foliage. The 'Hundredth Anniversary' variety, obtained in 1984, forms a fairly dense clump that will reach a height of 60 cm (24in), with a relative spread of 40 cm (16in). Daylilies tend to spread a bit when they like the soil. The flowers measure about 14 cm (6in) in diameter; the petals in this variety are thick and wide, and their edges are very undulate and slightly curved backwards. The lavender-fuchsia colour of the flower is enhanced by the presence of tiny crystals within the thickness of the petals that wonderfully reflect light. Each flower lasts only one day, but the flowering repeats continuously over a beautiful period between late June and late July, then again at the end of August and in September, more sporadically. The foliage is linear and dormant. Daylilies are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate dry soils but are more lush and floriferous in moist soil.

Very easy to grow, these plants succeed equally well in shade and the sun. Some can be invasive, so don't hesitate to divide the clumps every four or five years, preferably in autumn, after flowering. The daylily is often called the perfect perennial plant due to its vibrant colours and its ability to tolerate any kind of environment, but also due to its lack of modesty, it has a beautiful exuberance that goes well with other perennials. Plant them in generous clumps at the back of your flower beds. All summer bulb flowers can be planted alongside daylilies. 'Hundredth Anniversary' is an interesting variety for its long flowering period that will accompany repeat-flowering roses, perennial geraniums, lilies, or other daylilies in pink or white tones. Large pots of at least 30 cm (12in) deep on a balcony or patio should be used, choosing from among the dwarf varieties. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.