Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' (Daylily) — Clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes

Overview

Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' 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 'Jane Russell' 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, cottage gardens and containers.

About

Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' is a clump-forming perennial daylily with arching, strap-shaped leaves and upright flowering scapes. Flowers are mildly fragrant and appear from June to August. Foliage is fresh green and may be deciduous or semi-evergreen according to site. It grows in almost any reasonable soil from loam to clay and performs best in full sun to partial shade, with darker flower colours holding up better out of the hottest sun.

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 'Jane Russell' is a clump-forming perennial in the Hemerocallis genus, producing arching, strap-like leaves from a basal crown and erect scapes that carry the blooms. The flowers have a mild fragrance and open in the UK summer months (June to August), providing seasonally concentrated colour on upright stems. Planting is straightforward where soil is moist but well drained; the cultivar tolerates a wide range of soils from loam to clay and will grow in acid, neutral or alkaline conditions. It accepts a range of moisture levels once established, from damp to comparatively dry patches. Position it in full sun to partial shade — shading through the hottest part of the day helps preserve deeper flower tones — and it will withstand exposed or sheltered sites. The rating H6–H7 translates to very hardy to fully hardy for UK conditions, so it survives winter in most gardens. Use Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' in mixed borders, for mass planting, within cottage-style beds or in containers where you want arching, strap-shaped foliage to frame lower plants. Allow room for the clump to spread and for flower scapes to rise above surrounding foliage; the fresh green leaves provide a steady backdrop through the flowering period.

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 'Jane Russell' 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, cottage gardens, containers
Fragrance: Mild fragrance

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell'

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 'Jane Russell'?

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 'Jane Russell'?

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

What soil does Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' need?

Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' 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 'Jane Russell'?

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 'Jane Russell' hardy in the UK?

Hemerocallis 'Jane Russell' 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 'Jane Russell'?

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.

More in the Hemerocallis genus

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