Prairie Blue Eyes Daylily

Its unique color may not strictly be ‘blue’, but when first introduced the Prairie Blue Eyes Daylily brought us tantalizingly close to a true-blue daylily. Its remarkable lavender-blue flowers are bold, and make an exciting change from the yellows and oranges of most varieties – as well as looking great planted among them. This is among the most reliable and steady blooming of all daylilies, resistant to disease and a profuse bloomer even under less-than-ideal conditions. If you are a ‘plant it and forget it’ gardener, this is the daylily for you. Unlike many other varieties, it continues to flower even when the clump is large and has been in the ground for years. The flowering stems stand over 2 feet tall, and carry many large flowers well over 5 inches across. Each flower has a light-yellow throat, and broad petals held flat or curling back a little. This is a diurnal variety, so flowers open mid-morning and are still looking great when the evening comes – ideal if you work because you can enjoy it when you get home. Although partly evergreen, it is very cold tolerant and our Canadian friends in zones 3 and 4 have no trouble growing it. An outstanding classic variety for all lovers of uniquely colored daylilies.

• Striking flowers of a unique lavender-blue, with a yellow throat
• Many flower spikes, blooming at the height of daylily season
• Blooms are still open into the evening hours
• A valuable color break from the classic yellows and oranges
• More cold-tolerant than most other evergreen varieties

The Prairie Blue Eyes Daylily will grow best in full sun, but it will tolerate a little shade each day if it must. The best growth is seen in soils that are moist, rich, and well-drained, but it is easy-going, and will grow fine in any garden soil, from sand to clay, that still has good drainage. Deer and rabbits leave it alone, it isn’t normally bothered by pests, and it has good resistance to daylily rust, avoiding this potential problem that is increasing in warm zones. Remove spent flowers to keep new buds opening, and cut out the old flower stems low down in the plant, once the last bud has finished. In late fall remove old foliage, leaving any new green leaves, which will grow the next spring.