“The Sky Is The Limit” An AHS Media Library Production Tall and very tall daylilies from contemporary hybridizers An AHS Media Library Production Thanks to John Stahl for the idea and the images contained in this presentation.

Talls? Very Talls? The consensus today is that tall daylilies are over 48 inches, while very talls are over 60 inches. H. Gnarly Gnome, at 52”, is tall.

Today’s Breeders of Tall and Very Tall plants Even while many of today’s hybridizers are working toward new colors, patterns, polymerous blooms and more rebloom, a handful are also attempting to increase the height of daylilies. Two pioneers in this endeavor are Jim Murphy and Jamie Gossard. Joining them are Margo Reed, Brian Mahieu, Curt Hanson. Patrick Stamile, Dan Bachman, John Rice and Bret Clement.

Is Height Alone an Outstanding Feature of a Plant? Going back to the turn of the 20th Century many species daylilies were both tall and very tall. With the exception of good branching and bud count, many of these were not good examples of what we expect from today’s plants. Colors were basically monochromatic yellows and oranges. Spiders and unusual forms were absent. Patterned eyes surely did not exist.

Speaking of Unusual Jim Murphy has come up with MAD JACKY, a 54-incher with a lovely patterned eye.

THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON

DANCES WITH GIRAFFES

PROSAIC ARCHITECTURE

DANCES WITH FLAMINGOES Reed ~ 2005 55 MLa 6” Dor Dip Warm pink self with cream yellow to green throat Not a Unf, but called an “exotic”

Brian Mahieu ~ An Artist in Both Pigments and Plants Brian’s flowers, developed in the climatically volatile Midwest display unique form as well as color. Frequently called “orchid-like”, they do well in many zones. Most are spider and UF diploids and colors run the gamut; golds, reds, purples, lavenders, whites, some with eyes and watermarks.

Brian Mahieu’s and David Burris’s ROGNVALDURSSON is a true giant at 78 inches. It is probably the tallest purple plant today.

Another very tall from the Mahieu/Burris line is OLAF THE CONQUEROR on 70 inch scapes.

Get A Ladder!! Curt Hanson’s H. NOTIFY GROUND CREW is noted for its towering height of 72 inches. A decent bud count is another plus, but its less than exciting yellow color and branching only at its upper reaches makes it a difficult plant to place in the garden. Perennials or shrubs would be needed to fill in the lower void.

Jamie Gossard Jamie is known for his spiders and unusual forms in spectacular colors, many with striking eyezones and edges. He has a number of tall plants in the 49 inch to 68 inch range. Most are yellows and golds, but two stand out ; GETTING AIRBORNE, a purple, and TAHOE SNOW BLIZZARD, a near white.

GETTING AIRBORNE is a 56-inch dark purple Tet crispate and cascade UF GETTING AIRBORNE is a 56-inch dark purple Tet crispate and cascade UF. It has 4-5 way branching.

TAHOE SNOW BLIZZARD has 9-1/2 inch blooms on 56-inch scapes TAHOE SNOW BLIZZARD has 9-1/2 inch blooms on 56-inch scapes. It’s a diploid cascade UF with 5-way branching.

Al Goldner’s SEARS TOWER(2000) is very tall at 72 inches, with 7-inch yellow polychrome blooms.

John Rice, known for many flowers with watermarks has one tall one in his collections….REDNECK RED, with 8-inch UF blooms on 52-inch scapes.

BIG ROSS Bachman ~ 2001 54” MLa 10-1/2” Dip Sev Rose Blend cascade unusual form

LOLA BRANHAM Clayton Burkey’s 1991 LOLA BRANHAM, a classic cascade UF, is registered at 38 inches, but its lovely pink-lavender blooms regularly sit atop 60 inch scapes in our Long Island garden.

The late Augie Krupien ‘s introductions were few but diverse The late Augie Krupien ‘s introductions were few but diverse. His LATE SUMMER FLING (1998)is a double bonus as both a tall and a very late plant. A yellow and pink blend, its 4-1/2 blooms sit on 54 inch scapes.

Bret Clement Highly distinctive, northern hardy spiders and unusual forms are produced by Bret in Carmel, Indiana. Many have large pale watermarks, some have eyes. All are unique. He has several tall plants in his line, and all have sturdy, erect scapes.

MISTER EPPS J. Ware ~ 2005 54 MLa 7” Dor Dip Purple w/chalky lighter purple halo

PROLOGUE The moves by today’s hybridizers towards tall and very tall plants are exciting, and many more of these lofty plants will be seen in the near future. Their advantage is that they are not old, tired yellows, but marvelous eyed and edged blooms in many colors. One disadvantage is that a step ladder is needed in order to photograph some of them!

All photographs, unless other-wise noted, were taken under natural light by John Stahl. Camera equipment was a Canon EOS40D with 24-105mm f/4 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses. A monopod or tripod was utilized for many shots. Many thanks to the following people for allowing use of their photos ~ Jamie Gossard, Brian Mahieu, David Burris, Janene Tidwell, Julie Covington, Duane Hurlbert ,John Ware and Bret Clement.