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Hemerocallis 'Canadian Border Patrol' (Canadian Border Patrol Daylily)
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© Paul Paradis, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons

Hemerocallis 'Canadian Border Patrol'

Canadian Border Patrol Daylily

Garden hybrid cultivar; registered by Ed Fancett, Ontario, Canada, 1995; parent genus Hemerocallis native to East Asia

At a Glance

Height24-28 inches (60-70 cm)
Width18-24 inches (45-60 cm)
Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Overview

Hemerocallis 'Canadian Border Patrol' is a clumping semi-evergreen perennial in the asphodel family (Asphodelaceae) reaching 24–28 inches (60–70 cm) tall with a spread of 18–24 inches (45–60 cm). This daylily cultivar carries a bicolor picotee flower pattern: trumpet-shaped flowers 5.5–6 inches (14–15 cm) across open with creamy-ivory to pale yellow petals that are edged in a distinct dark purple to plum-violet picotee band around the petal margins, with a contrasting yellow-green throat at the flower center. The sharply defined dark edge set against the pale petal ground produces a clearly patterned bicolor flower face that separates the cultivar from solid-colored daylilies across the trade. Each individual flower lasts a single day, with well-branched flower scapes producing bloom from July through August across a 4–6-week display window that runs slightly shorter than some longer-blooming cultivars in the group. Foliage consists of arching strap-shaped medium green leaves. Growth rate runs moderate. Hardy to zone 3.

Native Range

Hemerocallis 'Canadian Border Patrol' is a garden hybrid registered by Ed Fancett of Ontario, Canada, in 1995. The parent genus Hemerocallis is native to East Asia, and the commercial daylily trade has bred thousands of cultivars from the wild Asian species across the past century.

Suggested Uses

Grown in border compositions at 18–24 inch (45–60 cm) spacing. The distinct bicolor picotee pattern is the primary visual feature of the cultivar, so siting in positions viewed at close range — along paths, at the front of borders, near seating areas — lets the picotee edge detail read clearly across the distance that gardeners actually view plants from. The shorter bloom period from July through August at 4–6 weeks runs shorter than some longer-season daylily cultivars, so companion planting that supplies early-season and late-season color fills the calendar gaps that this cultivar leaves in the color progression. The plant functions in container culture in 3 gallon (11 L) or larger pots. Deep shade weakens the picotee color definition, and waterlogged soils are not suitable given the drainage preference.

How to Identify

Separated from solid-colored daylilies by the sharply defined dark purple picotee edge band on pale ivory petals — the bicolor pattern reads with sharper definition than most other picotee daylilies in the trade. Separated from 'Barbary Corsair' by the bicolor flower pattern (versus the solid burgundy-red flowers of 'Barbary Corsair'). Separated from 'Buttered Popcorn' by the picotee pattern (versus the solid butter-yellow flowers of 'Buttered Popcorn'). A daylily carrying creamy-ivory petals edged in a sharp dark purple band confirms identification.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 2'4"
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks
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Trumpet-shaped flowers 5.5–6 inches (14–15 cm) across, creamy-ivory to pale yellow petal ground with a distinct dark purple to plum-violet picotee band around the petal margins, yellow-green throat at the flower center, open from July through August across a 4–6-week display window. Each individual flower lasts one day. The bloom window runs slightly shorter than some longer-blooming daylily cultivars in the group.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Creamy-ivory to pale yellow with dark purple to plum-violet picotee edge; yellow-green throat

Foliage Description

Medium green arching strap-shaped

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

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
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun in average to moist well-drained soil at pH 6.0–7.0, tolerating loam, clay, and sand. Hardy to zone 3. Full-sun positions intensify the dark picotee edge color — shade positions weaken the picotee definition and reduce the contrast that makes the bicolor pattern visible. Cultural requirements match the other daylily cultivars across the commercial trade. Dividing crowded clumps every 3–5 years maintains flowering vigor.

Pruning

Spent flower scapes are removed at the base of the plant after all buds on each scape have opened and closed. Foliage is cut back to the ground in late fall or early spring. Crowded clumps are divided every 3–5 years in spring or fall.

Pruning Schedule

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fallearly spring

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets