Hemerocallis 'Purple de Oro'

Hemerocallis 'Purple de Oro': Pocket-Sized Rebloomer Dressed in Purple

Purple petals with a gold throat, like somebody ordered royalty in a smaller size. 'Purple de Oro' is compact, reblooming and dressed for a coronation it wasn't invited to. CROWN NOT INCLUDED. ATTITUDE IS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hemerocallis 'Purple de Oro'
• Common Name: Daylily
• Height: 50 cm (20 in) in flower
• Spread: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Flowers: Medium-dark purple with a lighter midrib and edge over a gold throat, about 8 cm (3 in) across
• Bloom Time: Midsummer, with repeat bloom (July to August)
• Foliage: Narrow, grass-like green leaves; dies back in winter
• Features: Reblooming

Where to Plant: Plant it at the front or middle of a sunny border, along a path, or in a large container, in groups of three or more for a stronger show. It takes clay soil, which helps in many older city yards.

Companion Plants: Purple and gold daylily flowers look great beside Echinacea 'Mellow Yellows', whose yellow coneflowers run from June to October. Edge the front with Ceratostigma plumbaginoides for blue flowers from August to October. Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' adds pink, veined flowers from June to September on 60 to 120 cm stems. Give the group full sun or part sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun in average, well-drained soil. Dark purple flowers can look a little faded in hot afternoon sun, so morning sun with light afternoon shade is ideal. Water through the first season, then during long dry spells. Remove spent flowers and cut finished stems to the base to encourage more buds. Clear away old foliage in late fall or early spring. Divide every three or four years in spring or early fall. Daylilies are toxic to cats.

History: 'Purple De Oro' was registered with the American Daylily Society in 2000 by DeGroot, Inc., and it is a diploid, dormant daylily with single flowers that rebloom. The name borrows from 'Stella de Oro', the reblooming yellow that set the standard for compact daylilies.

Final Thoughts: Line the front of the border and watch it bloom on repeat. Drought tolerant once established. WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.