Hemerocallis 'Primal Scream'
primal scream daylily
East Asia (genus origin; cultivar is a garden hybrid)
Overview
Hemerocallis 'Primal Scream' is a tall, clumping, deciduous herbaceous perennial reaching 30–36 inches (75–90 cm) tall and 24–30 inches (60–75 cm) wide. The tetraploid cultivar was registered by Curt Hanson in 1994 and received the American Hemerocallis Society Stout Silver Medal in 2003. Flowers are 7–8 inches (18–20 cm) across in spider form, with narrow, recurved petals showing a petal length-to-width ratio above 4:1. Petal color is saturated tangerine-orange, with reported sun-fastness in cool climates. Foliage is medium green, arching, strap-shaped, and 22–28 inches (55–70 cm) long, dying back to ground level with hard frost. Bloom runs from July through August over 4–6 weeks. Each flower opens for one day. Scapes are 30–36 inches (75–90 cm) and may lodge in exposed wind sites, benefitting from sheltered planting or staking in open positions. Growth rate is moderate, with plants reaching mature clump size in 2 years. Hardy to USDA zone 3. All plant parts contain colchicine-like compounds and are toxic to cats, causing acute kidney failure if ingested.
Native Range
Hemerocallis spp. 'Primal Scream' is a garden hybrid registered by Curt Hanson in 1994 and does not occur in the wild. The genus Hemerocallis spp. is native to East Asia, with wild species distributed across China, Korea, Japan, and eastern Russia.Suggested Uses
Used in mid- to back-of-border positions at 24–30 inch (60–75 cm) spacing, and as a cut flower. The 30–36 inch (75–90 cm) scape height places flowers above neighboring mid-border perennials such as Echinacea purpurea and Phlox paniculata. The spider flower form creates an open, pinwheel silhouette against plants with rounded flower forms. A 4–6 week bloom window calls for companion perennials for summer-long color. Container culture is possible only in 7 gallon (26 L) or larger pots given the scape height; most border positions suit the plant better. Deep shade, continuously wet soils, and wind-exposed sites reduce performance.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2'6" - 3'
Width/Spread2' - 2'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowers appear from July through August over 4–6 weeks. Individual blooms are 7–8 inches (18–20 cm) across in saturated tangerine-orange, with narrow recurved petals at a length-to-width ratio above 4:1. Each flower opens for one day. Scapes carry 10–15 buds.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Saturated tangerine-orange with narrow recurved spider-form petals (length-to-width ratio above 4:1); 7-8 inches acrossFoliage Description
Medium green, arching strap-shaped, 22-28 inches longGrowing 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun with 6 or more hours of direct light in average to moist, well-drained loam, clay, or sandy soil at pH 6.0–7.0. Scapes reach 30–36 inches (75–90 cm); staking or planting in sheltered positions reduces lodging in wind-exposed sites. Water deeply once per week during the first growing season, then reduce to supplemental irrigation during drought. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring at 1 tablespoon per square foot (30 g/m²). Divide clumps every 3–5 years in early spring or early fall. Hardy to USDA zone 3.Pruning
Remove spent flower scapes at the base once all buds have opened and finished. Cut spent foliage to ground level after the first hard frost, or in early March before new growth emerges. Lift and divide crowded clumps every 3–5 years using a spade or two garden forks.Pruning Schedule
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fallearly spring