Hemerocallis Alice in Wonderland - Daylily

Hemerocallis Alice in Wonderland offers a real presence in the garden, thanks to its abundant lemon yellow flowers with a green throat.  It is a very bright, on a lush clump of thin, spring green foliage. Its medium-sized flowers are slightly undulate along the edges and form widely open stars towards the sky. This semi-dwarf variety easily establishes itself in a natural garden and will be more generous in fertile and not too dry soil.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the family Liliaceae. They are  perennial and hardy plants whose foliage is deciduous, sometimes semi-evergreen. The variety 'Alice in Wonderland', obtained in 1966, grows in a fairly dense clump that will reach 80 cm (32in) in height when flowering, 70 cm (28in) for just the foliage, with a relative spread of 60 cm (24in).  Hemerocallis tend to spread a bit when they like the soil. The flowers measure about 12 cm (5in) in diameter, and they are produced abundantly on ramified stems filled with numerous buds. The petals of this variety are thick, wide, and slightly crinkled. Each flower lasts hardly more than a day, but the flowering is continuously renewed over a beautiful period between June and July. The stems are sturdy and allow for beautiful bouquets, as the buds open well in a vase. The linear foliage is abundant, bright green, and deciduous. Hemerocallis are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate dry soils, but they are more lush and floriferous in damp soil.

Very easy to grow, these plants thrive both in shade and in the sun. Some of them can be a bit invasive, so don't hesitate to divide the clumps every four or five years, preferably in autumn, after flowering. Hemerocallis is often called 'the perfect perennial plant, because of its vibrant colours, its ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also due to its lack of modesty, it has a beautiful exuberance that goes well with other perennials. Plant them in generous clumps in the background of your flower beds. All summer bulb flowers can be planted alongside Hemerocallis. 'Alice in Wonderland' will blend perfectly in a contemporary garden, alongside small grasses like Stipa tenuifolia planted by its side. It pairs well with yellow yarrows and potentillas, or with Lychnis coronaria, in a more rustic-inspired flower bed. Dwarf varieties can be planted on a balcony or patio in large pots with a minimum depth of 30 cm (12in). The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.