Hemerocallis 'Elegant Candy' (Elegant Candy Daylily)

Paul Henjum, no rights reserved (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons

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Hemerocallis 'Elegant Candy'

elegant candy daylily

Asphodelaceae

Garden cultivar; parent species native to East Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Hemerocallis 'Elegant Candy' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial with a tetraploid genetic background, reaching 26-30 inches (65-75 cm) tall in flower and 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) wide at maturity. Foliage forms an arching basal mound of strap-shaped mid-green leaves 16-18 inches (40-45 cm) long; foliage is semi-evergreen in zones 7-9 and herbaceous in zones 3-6. Scapes hold 4-6 buds each. Flowers are 4.25 inches (11 cm) wide, candy pink with a deep cherry red eyezone surrounding a yellow-green throat; ruffled tepal margins are slightly paler pink. Each flower opens in early morning and closes by evening; some openings extend to a second day in cool weather. Bloom begins in mid-June through July in zones 5-7, with rebloom in late summer to early fall in zones 5-9 when plants receive consistent moisture. Fragrance is light and detectable on still mornings within 12 inches (30 cm) of the flower. Plants spread slowly by short rhizomes; mature clumps reach 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) in 3-4 years from a single fan. Lower foliage may yellow in late summer under drought; this can be removed without affecting plant health. Lifespan in zones 4-8 is 8-12 years between divisions.

Native Range

Hemerocallis 'Elegant Candy' is a garden cultivar with no native habitat. Modern Hemerocallis spp. hybrids descend from East Asian species (H. fulva, H. lilioasphodelus, H. citrina, H. minor), found in meadows, woodland edges, and stream banks across temperate China, Japan, and Korea.

Suggested Uses

Used in perennial borders, mass plantings, and along sloped banks; spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart in groupings. Combines with mid-summer perennials such as Echinacea purpurea, Phlox paniculata, and Stachys byzantina, and with ornamental grasses such as Pennisetum alopecuroides. Grown in containers of at least 3 gallons (11 L); container plants flower less heavily than in-ground plants and require winter protection in zones 3-5.

How to Identify

Identified by 4.25 inch (11 cm) wide candy-pink flowers with a deep cherry-red eyezone surrounding a yellow-green throat and ruffled tepal margins, on 26-30 inch (65-75 cm) scapes. Foliage is mid-green, strap-shaped, 16-18 inches (40-45 cm) long, forming an arching basal clump. Differs from other pink-with-red-eye Hemerocallis spp. cultivars by the combination of yellow-green throat and ruffled tepal edge over the candy-pink base color, and from species type H. fulva by the smaller flower size and absence of orange tones.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2'2" - 2'6"

Width/Spread2' - 2'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer Fall

Mid-June through July in zones 5-7, with rebloom 6-8 weeks after the primary flush in zones 5-9 when plants receive supplemental water through the gap. Each scape carries 4-6 buds opening successively over 10-14 days; total primary bloom display extends 4-5 weeks. Rebloom continues for 2-3 weeks in late August through September. In zones 8-9, bloom may begin in late May with rebloom into October.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Candy pink with deep cherry-red eyezone and yellow-green throat; ruffled tepal margins

Foliage Description

Mid-green, strap-shaped, slightly arching

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants are set with the crown at soil level in spring or fall in well-drained loam; planting deeper than 1 inch (2.5 cm) reduces flowering. Water weekly during the first growing season; established plants tolerate 3-4 weeks without rain but produce fewer flowers and skip rebloom under drought. Daylily rust (Puccinia hemerocallidis) appears as orange pustules on leaf undersides in humid conditions; affected foliage can be cut to ground in fall and removed from the site. Spring sickness sometimes appears in zones 5-7 as deformed early growth following hard winters; affected plants generally recover by late spring. Clumps benefit from division every 4-6 years when the center thins; division is performed in early spring or 6 weeks before first frost. Slugs feed on emerging foliage in cool wet springs.

Pruning

Spent scapes are cut to the base after bloom completes to prevent seed pod formation that diverts energy from rebloom. Yellowing or browning foliage is removed mid-season as needed; this does not affect plant health. Foliage is cut to 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) above the crown in late fall after first frost, or left in place over winter and removed in early spring before new growth emerges.

Pruning Schedule

summerfall