Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon'

Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon': A Timeless Bloom of Afternoon Elegance

Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon', a distinguished cultivar in the world of daylilies, unfolds its beauty with a timeless elegance reminiscent of tranquil afternoons bathed in soft sunlight. This award-winning variety captivates gardeners and onlookers alike with its large, mauve-pink blooms that feature a deep plum eye and a glowing green throat, offering a stunning display from early to mid-summer. Ideal for adding a touch of sophistication to perennial borders, creating vibrant mass plantings, or incorporating into cottage gardens, 'Always Afternoon' thrives in full sun to partial shade, showcasing its exquisite flowers atop strong, arching stems.

Product Characteristics:

• Height: 'Always Afternoon' reaches a graceful height of 55-60 cm, making it an ideal choice for creating layers of color and texture within the garden or as an elegant feature in mixed plantings.
• Spread: It forms a robust, clumping habit, spreading approximately 45-60 cm wide, ensuring a full and vibrant display of foliage and blooms that beautifully accent garden spaces with its dynamic presence.
• Flower Colour: The blooms are a mesmerizing mauve-pink with a pronounced deep plum eye and a striking green throat, each flower unfurling to reveal a generous size and exquisite form that bloom generously, creating a visually stunning effect.
• Flowering Period: Blooming from early to mid-summer, Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon' ensures the garden remains a lively and inviting retreat, offering a prolonged burst of afternoon elegance.
• Foliage: Its foliage is bright green, strap-like, and forms a dense mound, providing a lush backdrop that highlights the beauty of the blooms and adds texture to the plant's overall appearance.
• Sunlight Requirements: Prefers full sun to partial shade, flourishing in conditions that encourage a lavish display of flowers and robust, healthy growth.
• Soil Requirements: Enjoys well-drained, fertile soil, showing remarkable adaptability to a range of soil conditions, making it a resilient and versatile choice for various garden settings.

Uses and Benefits: In addition to its stunning visual appeal, 'Always Afternoon' is celebrated for its ability to attract pollinators, including bees and butterflies, enhancing garden biodiversity and contributing to the health of these vital creatures. Its drought tolerance once established and low maintenance needs make it a versatile addition to any garden, offering endless possibilities for creating landscapes that resonate with beauty and ease of care.

Companion Plants: This elegant daylily pairs beautifully with other perennials such as Lavender (Lavandula), Russian Sage (Perovskia), and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), creating a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance garden display that emphasizes color contrast and textural diversity. The soft mauve-pink blooms of 'Always Afternoon' beautifully complement the varied hues and textures of these companions, creating a cohesive and visually harmonious garden tableau.

Care Instructions: Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon' is delightfully low maintenance, requiring minimal care to thrive. Regular watering, particularly during dry spells, helps establish a deep and extensive root system. Deadheading spent blooms can encourage further flowering and maintain a tidy appearance, while division every few years in early spring or fall can rejuvenate and increase flowering.

History: With its introduction, 'Always Afternoon' quickly became a favorite among gardeners and landscape designers for its distinctive beauty, earning accolades and awards for its performance and stunning floral display.

Final Thoughts: Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon', with its mauve-pink blooms and lush green foliage, offers a blend of timeless beauty, easy care, and ecological benefits, making it a cherished addition to any garden. Whether used to enhance perennial borders, create vibrant mass plantings, or as a standout feature in cottage gardens, 'Always Afternoon' invites all who visit the garden to enjoy its afternoon elegance and the tranquil, sophisticated ambiance it creates.