Press Releases

Two New Top Performers Named "All-American" Daylilies for 2003

NOTE: To download high-resolution photos of these new All-American daylilies, visit the All American Daylily Selection Council's website: www.daylilyresearch.org

GRAIN VALLEY, MISSOURI August 2002 . . . The All-American Daylily Selection Council (AADSC) recently announced two new additions to its growing family of All-American daylily beauties. 'Frankly Scarlet,' a vibrant red, and 'Plum Perfect,' a deep, luscious purple both received their awards in the landscape category. These two 2003 winners join a select group of just six cultivars that have been awarded the honored All-American title since the AADSC test program began in 1985.

The All-American title is granted only to those rare daylily varieties that have shown superior performance across at least five USDA hardiness zones. The AADSC All-American daylily award differs from others in that its results are based on rigorous scientific methodology. The 2003 All-American varieties are tried and true cultivars whose test scores earned them the AADSC's top honor. Both of the 2003 winners offer a uniquely individual blend of beauty, performance and abundant garden applications.

'Frankly Scarlet,' a stunning bloom, represents a breakthrough in red daylily breeding. While most red daylily blooms lose their luster as the sun beats
down on them, 'Frankly Scarlet' shines in the heat. Starting out somewhat muted in the morning, these velvety, scarlet, four-inch blooms actually build color intensity throughout the afternoon and are still vibrant past 6:00 in the evening.

Nothing sets off bright red like dark green, which makes 'Frankly Scarlet's' dark green, dense, 14- to 25-inch tall foliage such an excellent landscape statement. Even in the heat of the summer, the foliage retains its lush dark green color. 'Frankly Scarlet' is also an eager rebloomer providing encore performances throughout the growing season. Those who garden in zones 9-10 will enjoy seeing 'Frankly Scarlet's' brilliant blooms well past Thanksgiving.

'Plum Perfect' the other 2003 winner, also in the landscape category, shows off pure plum blooms borne on well-branched scapes. Its 3 1/2-inch flower features an indigo purple eyezone that is set off by a glowing gold throat, purple veining, white mid-ribs and lightly ruffled edges.

Clear, vibrant color coupled with a striking symmetry of foliage sets this beauty apart. Frequent reblooming is another reward for growing this rapid multiplier. 'Plum Perfect' thrives and blooms in full sun and light shade
-- a somewhat unusual characteristic for daylilies. This undemanding cultivar offers purity of color, vigorous growth, multiple bloom periods and wide adaptability ensuring it a spot in gardens from Macon, Georgia to Muskegon, Michigan.

The soaring popularity of daylilies, combined with the bewildering profusion of varieties and growing characteristics, demanded the development of a standard for daylily excellence. The All-American Daylily Selection Council, organized to address this demand, now coordinates a testing program which evaluates daylilies on over 50 performance characteristics across a nationwide network of test sites. This rigorous testing has produced comprehensive and surprising results. Who would have thought, for example, that a daylily bred in Texas would have been a top bloomer in Wisconsin, or that one from Missouri would perform so well in the heat of Southern California?

There are more than 48,000 daylilies registered, bred in at least 25 states, by hundreds of individual hybridizers. Using its elaborate testing program, the AADSC sorts through the thousands of registered daylilies and awards to only the top performers across five USDA hardiness zones the coveted title of "All American."

Each year's scores are measured against all previous test data in order to ensure that the All-Americans are truly the best performers in their color category. Daylilies are tested for at least two years, with All-American finalists being grown for another three to five years in open field conditions before being announced.

2003 marks another year of new All-American daylily winners offering gardeners throughout the country a steady stream of these tried and tested perennial beauties. Gardeners nationwide can expect to see these proven daylilies at their garden center and grow them successfully in virtually any garden in America. Backed by scientifically proven superior performance nationwide, All-American Daylilies are becoming America's preferred perennial.

'Black Eyed Stella,' the first to receive the All-American title in 1994, is best known for its landscape performance as a nearly continuous bloomer. The two 1998 winners, 'Lullaby Baby' and 'Starstruck,' were honored for exquisite beauty and balance in the exhibition category. 'Bitsy,' one of three 2002 winners, combines a petite personality with powerful performance and is one of the longest blooming varieties the AADSC has encountered in 12 years of testing. 'Leebea Orange Crush' is one of the rare daylilies exhibiting such balanced performance that it won in both the landscape and exhibition categories and commands attention in any setting. 'Judith,' a large vigorous variety, with its profusion of glowing pink blossoms, won in the exhibition category and is a trophy in anyone's garden.

The new 2003 All-American daylilies will be widely available, along with the other six All-Americans in Spring 2003 at garden centers nationwide. They
will be easily located by the colorful banners, posters, and bench cards, and will be displayed in an attractive blue pot featuring a large, informative booklet style plant tag. The entire collection of All-American winners offers the shopper eight premium choices for creating their own All-American Daylily garden.

Garden centers can order 'Frankly Scarlet' and 'Plum Perfect' plus all the previous winners grown in the distinctive blue pot from: El Modeno Gardens (CA), McCorkle Nurseries (GA), Pride's Corner Farms (CT), Ridge Manor Nurseries (OH), and Zelenka Nursery (MI). Bare root plants will be available from American Daylily & Perennials (MO), Greenwood Daylily (CA), Oakes Daylilies (TN), and The Plant X Change (TX).

For more information about the 2003 All-American daylilies, 'Frankly Scarlet' and 'Plum Perfect,' or to download high-resolution photos of them, please visit the AADSC website www.daylilyresearch.org. You may also contact Mary McLoughlin at (616) 698-0748.