Hemerocallis Indian Giver - Daylily

The Daylily or Hemerocallis 'Indian Giver' bears large and beautiful flowers with a rare colour in late spring and again in late summer.  Elegant and dark, delicately undulating at the edges, they have petals of a dark purple delicately edged with light lavender, with a pale lavender midline,  veined with purple, surrounding a green throat.  This cultivar quickly forms beautiful clumps of sword-shaped foliage that persist more or less in winter. It is a subtly original variety to be planted at the edge of a flower bed with pink or even orange flowers.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the family Liliaceae or hémérocallidacées according to classifications. They are perennial and hardy plants with deciduous foliage, sometimes semi-evergreen. The variety 'Indian Giver', several times awarded in international competitions, has produced 84 cultivars. It forms a fairly dense clump that reaches a height of 55 cm, with a relative spread of 50 cm (20in); daylilies tend to spread a bit when they like the soil. The flowers measure about 11 cm (4in) in diameter. The petals in this variety are thick and iridescent. Each flower opens in the morning and lasts only a day, but the flowering continuously renews over a beautiful period between June-July and September if the soil remains moist. The stems are robust, branched in two, and adorned with 10 to 15 buds. The foliage is linear, dark green and semi-evergreen in winter, depending on the climate. Daylilies are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate dry soils but are more opulent and floriferous in moist soil. 

Very easy to grow, these plants thrive in shade and full 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" because of its vibrant colours and ability to tolerate any type of environment. 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 (lilies, agapanthus, ixias...) can be planted alongside daylilies. 'Indian Giver' is a variety with subtle colours to be highlighted alongside pink or orange blooms: think, for example, the daylilies 'Janice Brown' or 'Double Dream'. Add some perennial flaxes, erigerons and chamomiles, for example. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.