Going Bananas Daylily

The creation of reblooming daylilies has transformed these great garden plants into garden essentials. If you love these reliable perennials – and who doesn’t? – then the summer bloom period can be frustratingly short, just a few weeks. Rebloomers come bouncing back, though, with a whole new set of sturdy stems pushing up in late summer or early fall, depending on where you live. All that beauty comes bouncing back, with double to color for zero extra work – what more can we ask of our plants? For compact growth and reliable reblooming, everyone is going bananas for the Going Bananas Daylily, and no wonder. Every stem is packed with gorgeous blooms, and the whole plant stands just 18 inches tall in bloom, with the flowers proudly standing above the leaves, but not waving in the air on crazy-long stems. The color is perfect anywhere in the garden, and blends with just about all other garden colors, including rose-pinks and purples, so it’s sure to fit into your planting. Start every day by stopping to admire your Going Bananas Daylilies as you head out for another busy day, and thank them for being so easy to grow – it’s the least we can do for such a great plant.

Growing Going Bananas Daylily

Size and Appearance

The Going Bananas Daylily is a very hardy perennial plant, which produces leaves in fall, so that in warm zones it is semi-evergreen. The main growth is in spring, of course, when the strong root system sends up a dense clump of mid-green smooth leaves, which are long and narrow, rising up and arching over to make an attractive mound that covers the ground effectively. The foliage rises about 12 inches into the air, making a dense ground cover that isn’t too tall for smaller gardens. The reblooming variety produces dense clusters of buds on stems that grow to 17 inches tall. With up to 15 buds on every stem, you can be sure of several weeks of blooming, starting in July, but as early as May in hot zones. The flowers are 4 inches across, with broad, recurving petals of a clear lemon yellow, making a showy flower and a bright display. Blooms open early in the day, and stay open until late afternoon, with fresh new flowers opening every day. But that’s not all. By September you will be seeing that show all over again, as this reliable reblooming variety goes crazy with color not once, but twice a season.

Using Going Bananas Daylily in Your Garden

The compact growth of the Going Bananas Daylily makes it perfect for smaller gardens and filling those awkward small gaps that can appear in even the most well-planned beds. The lemon coloring fits in with a broad spectrum – obviously with other yellows, oranges and orange-reds, but also with purples and dusky pinks, making those more muted colors really sing. Plant it alone in small beds, or space plants 15 inches apart for continuous edging or weed-resistant ground cover on slopes and in retaining walls, and anywhere you want lots of seasonal color.

Hardiness

The semi-evergreen nature of this plant makes it great for hot zones all the way into zone 9, but it is also cold-resistant, and thrives even in zone 4.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

To get the best results, and maximum reblooming, plant the Going Bananas Daylily in full sun – it loves it. Plant it in any well-drained soil, preferably a richer, moist soil, but this tough plant is also terrific in poorer soils and drier areas, although it may not Plant it in any well-drained soil, preferably a richer, moist soil, but this tough plant is also terrific in poorer soils and drier areas, although it may not rebloom reliably if it is dry all summer.

Maintenance and Pruning

Deer and other pests or diseases will leave the Going Bananas Daylily alone, so it is very easy to grow, and trouble-free. Cut out flower stems once the last bud has bloomed, and in late fall, once the leaves begin to yellow, cut the old foliage to the ground. Leave the short new leaves you will see sprouting from the base – these will grow through the winter in warmer zones, and help produce a strong plant even in cold ones, where they will eventually die in winter. In either case strong new growth will come in spring.

History and Origin of Going Bananas Daylily

All our modern garden daylilies, or Hemerocallis, are hybrids, usually of earlier hybrids, but the parent species originally came from Japan, China and Korea. The Meyer family of Georgia have been breeding daylilies for decades, and Chris Meyer works for Walters Gardens, in Zeeland, Michigan. Chris was making many crosses, and growing lots of seedlings, looking for great new plants. In 1994 he found a plant from a cross between ‘Happy Returns’ and ‘Brocaded Gown’, growing in his trial beds. He selected it for its prolific blooming, great habit and fabulous color. It was registered as a new variety in 2004 and patented in 2006, with the name, ‘Going Bananas’.

Buying Going Bananas Daylily at the Tree Center

The Going Bananas Daylily is sure to please even the most discerning daylily lover – its great color and reliable reblooming habit make it a true winner. From all the thousands of varieties registered, we select only the top performers, and those that give the best results in regular gardens. Make sure your garden has lots of daylilies for months, by planting this great variety. Of course, our supply is limited, so order now – these plants sell faster than fresh fruit.