Hemerocallis 'SAMMY RUSSELL' daylily
size/type
mid-sized perennial,mid-sized perennial
usual height
0,8-1m
usual width
0,5-1m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
July-September
location
full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
3 (down to -40°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Daylilies are flowering queens for one day. Each bloom lasts a day but there is no need to worry – every stem bears more blooms and as the plants grow older they have numerous stems each. This low-maintenance perennial is a miracle for those who have limited time to spend looking after their gardens because apart from occasional watering on hot and dry summer day it needs ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And still it can leave us gazing at their beautiful, lily-like blooms of every possible colour you can think of (except for blue and black).
Description of the plant:
Sammy Russell daylily is an old piece by one of the most influential American daylily breeders of the 20th century H.M.Russell. This variety has large, star-shaped, narrow-petalled, rich velvet red flowers with a deep red eye and golden throat. In spite of its birth already in 1951 it is still very popular, mostly for its longevity and extended flowering period - it begins in mid July and continues until late summer, or reblooms in early September if the weather is sunny and warm. Stems are not very thick, some 80-90 cm tall, and deciduous leaves are narrow to medium wide. The breeder H.M.Russell came from Dallas, Texas, USA, and he devoted almost all his life to breeding daylilies. He was among the first contributors to the AHS (American Hemerocallis Society), and by 1960 he had the largest collection of his own hybrids which he sold all over the country as possibly the first daylily mail order service. His catalogue was very pretty and customer around the US enjoyed his fantastic flowers delivered right to their doorstep, unless they could make a trip to the stunning Russell Gardens with spectacular display of daylilies growing in large beds under huge oak trees. The AHS has a record of incredible 1,259 varieties registered with Russell's name.
The leaves are deep green, strong and healthy. They appear early in the spring and persist until winter unlike spring bulbs whose leaves wither away after flowering. Apart from occasional slug attack there are no pests or diseases they would suffer from. Put your day lilies on a sunny spot and fertilize it for better flowering every spring, if you want to. It tolerates all types of soil, preferably it likes moist soil. Very hardy to min. -40°C (USDA zone 3).
Last update 05-12-2016
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