Hemerocallis 'Arctic Snow'

Hemerocallis 'Arctic Snow': Ivory Peacemaker for Hot-Coloured Beds

'Arctic Snow' brings the winter look to midsummer with none of the shovelling. Big ivory-white flowers with a lemony throat, a fresh one every morning. COOL AS ICE IN A HEAT WAVE.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hemerocallis 'Arctic Snow'
• Common Name: Daylily
• Height: 60 cm (24 in) in flower
• Spread: 60–80 cm (24–31 in)
• Flowers: Ivory-white to cream, about 15 cm (6 in) across, with a lemon-yellow to greenish throat. Each bloom lasts a day, and new buds keep opening through the season.
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Arching, strap-like green leaves in a compact clump that dies back in winter

Where to Plant: Put it between hot reds and oranges to keep them from clashing, or near a patio or evening garden where pale flowers glow at dusk. It copes well with clay soil and cold winters. Deer and rabbits like daylily buds, so plant it where they don't patrol.

Companion Plants: Cream daylilies glow beside Symphyotrichum shortii, whose blue flowers run from August to October. Sanguisorba 'Little Angel' adds burgundy pincushion flowers at the front from June to September. Calamintha nepeta 'Blue Cloud' brings blue flowers from June to September at 25 to 30 cm. Together they suit full sun or part sun.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun for the most flowers. It will grow in part sun, with somewhat fewer blooms. Set the crown about 2.5 cm (1 in) below the soil surface in average, well-drained soil. Water regularly through the first season. After that, it copes with dry spells, though a deep drink during a long drought keeps the buds coming. Snap off spent flower stalks once they're finished. Clear away the foliage after it dies back in late fall, or tidy it in early spring. Divide the clump in spring or late summer every few years, when it gets crowded or blooming slows down.

History: Daylilies (Hemerocallis) come from eastern Asia, and the genus name joins Greek words for day and beauty. The breeder of 'Arctic Snow' couldn't be confirmed, but it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Pair it with hot reds and oranges and let it be the cool head in the room. NO SNOW TIRES REQUIRED.