Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' (Daylily) — Clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes

Overview

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' is a clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes perennial in the genus Hemerocallis, part of the Asphodelaceae family, with deciduous or semi-evergreen; arching, strap-shaped, fresh green foliage. Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' grows best in full sun to partial shade; darker colours hold better out of hot sun, and tolerates almost any reasonable soil and from loam to clay soils and acid and neutral or alkaline pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6-H7. Suggested uses include borders, mass planting, containers and cut flowers.

About

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' is a clump-forming perennial daylily with arching, strap-shaped foliage and upright flowering scapes. Leaves are fresh green and may be deciduous or semi-evergreen depending on site; individual blooms typically last about a day while scapes carry successive flowers. It prefers full sun to partial shade, with darker colours holding better out of hot sun, and will grow in almost any reasonable soil from loam to clay. Flowering occurs June to August and the scapes make good material for cut flowers.

About the genus

A daylily, day lily or ditch-lily is a flowering plant in the genus Hemerocallis, a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Asia. Despite the common name, it is not taxonomically classified in the lily genus. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long bred Hemerocallis species for their attractive flowers; a select few species of the genus have edible petals, while some are extremely toxic.

Wikipedia contributors, "Daylily", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Daylily

In the garden

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' belongs to the genus Hemerocallis in the Asphodelaceae, a group of perennial plants that originate from Asia and have been selected by gardeners for their summer-flowering habit. As a clump-forming variety it produces arching, strap-shaped foliage from a basal crown and sends up upright scapes that bear individual blooms for about a day each, with further flowers following along the stem. Plant it where it receives full sun to partial shade — darker colours retain better tone out of hot sun — in almost any reasonable soil from loam to clay. It tolerates acid, neutral or alkaline pH and prefers a moist but well-drained position; once established it will cope with both damp and dry conditions. Aspect is flexible (any) and exposure may be either sheltered or exposed. Rated H6–H7, it is classed as very hardy to fully hardy for UK gardens. Use Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' in mixed borders, for mass planting, in containers or for cutting; its arching foliage provides structure while the upright scapes give repeating summer interest. Expect a reliable run of blooms from June to August and stems that supply successive one-day flowers for the vase.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Hemerocallis

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade; darker colours hold better out of hot sun
Soil type: Almost any reasonable soil, from loam to clay
Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline
Soil moisture: Moist but well drained; tolerates both damp and dry once established
Aspect: Any
Exposure: Exposed or sheltered
UK hardiness: H6-H7

Plant details

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Perennial
Habit: Clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes
Foliage: Deciduous or semi-evergreen; arching, strap-shaped, fresh green
Suggested uses: Borders, mass planting, containers, cut flowers

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor'

Cultivation: Among the most forgiving of perennials, and effectively unkillable once settled. They flower most freely in an open position with reasonable moisture while the buds are forming, and benefit from division every four or five years, since a congested clump produces plenty of leaf and progressively fewer scapes.
Pruning: Snap off spent blooms to keep the display clean, and cut scapes to the base once all buds have finished. Remove dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.
Propagation: Divide in early spring or immediately after flowering, splitting the crown into fans each with roots attached. Proliferations that form on the scapes of some cultivars can be rooted as cuttings.
Pest resistance: Slugs and snails graze new spring growth, and hemerocallis gall midge distorts buds in early summer - affected buds are best picked off and destroyed.
Disease resistance: Robust. Daylily rust is the main disease of note but remains uncommon in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

How do I grow Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor'?

Among the most forgiving of perennials, and effectively unkillable once settled. They flower most freely in an open position with reasonable moisture while the buds are forming, and benefit from division every four or five years, since a congested clump produces plenty of leaf and progressively fewer scapes.

Where is the best place to plant Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor'?

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' prefers full sun to partial shade; darker colours hold better out of hot sun. It suits exposed or sheltered positions.

What soil does Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' need?

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' grows best in almost any reasonable soil and from loam to clay soil. It prefers acid and neutral or alkaline soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well drained; tolerates both damp and dry once established.

How do I prune Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor'?

Snap off spent blooms to keep the display clean, and cut scapes to the base once all buds have finished. Remove dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.

Is Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' hardy in the UK?

Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor' has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.

How do I propagate Hemerocallis 'Duke of Windsor'?

Divide in early spring or immediately after flowering, splitting the crown into fans each with roots attached. Proliferations that form on the scapes of some cultivars can be rooted as cuttings.

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