Hemerocallis 'Final Touch'

Hemerocallis 'Final Touch': Lavender-Pink Encore After the July Rush

Every party has that one guest who shows up after dessert and steals the whole night. 'Final Touch' blooms late, when the other daylilies have packed it in. LATE? FASHIONABLY.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hemerocallis 'Final Touch'
• Common Name: Daylily
• Height: 75–80 cm (29–31 in) in flower
• Spread: 60–90 cm (24–35 in)
• Flowers: Soft lavender-pink with a green throat, about 13 cm (5 in) across, fragrant
• Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall (August to September)
• Foliage: Arching, strap-like green leaves in a broad clump
• Features: Late blooming, fragrant

Where to Plant: Plant it to stretch the season into late summer, in the middle or back of a border where it has room to spread. It grows well in clay and handles cold winters, but plan its spot with grazing deer and rabbits in mind.

Companion Plants: Use late-blooming 'Final Touch' in a sunny or part-shade bed with orange geum, lemon daisies and white anemones. Geum 'Koi' edges the front with bright orange flowers at 20 to 25 cm from May to September. Leucanthemum 'Lemon Meringue' adds lemon-centred double daisies at 35 cm from June to August. Anemone Frilly Knickers™ brings ruffled white anemones at 45 to 60 cm from August to October. Calamagrostis 'Overdam' stands behind at 90 to 120 cm with cream-edged blades.

Plant Care: Full sun gives the strongest late show. Part sun works, with fewer flowers. Plant the crown about 2.5 cm (1 in) below the surface in average, well-drained soil and water regularly in the first season. Give it room, since the clump gets broad. Once established, it tolerates dry spells. Late summer can be dry, so a deep watering when buds form helps. Remove finished stalks, then clear the foliage in late fall or early spring. Divide in spring every few years when the clump gets crowded.

History: 'Final Touch' is a diploid daylily registered in 1991 and credited to Dr. Darrel Apps, the breeder behind several well-loved reblooming daylilies. It was later offered in Heritage Perennials' Trophytaker daylily program, which featured varieties tested for bloom, hardiness and vigour.

Final Thoughts: Plant it to keep the border going after the rest have quit. The fragrance is a bonus. SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.