Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Always Afternoon Daylily: A Plum Eye That Echoes Your Lavender
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Always Afternoon daylily is a classic for a reason. Its rounded, 5½-inch flowers are dusky rose with a bold plum purple eye, a small lime green throat and crimped petals edged in a thin buff-pink line. The blooms stay open at least 16 hours, well into the evening, and the plant has won the highest honor the daylily world gives out.
Always Afternoon at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Always Afternoon' |
| Flowers | About 5½ inches, dusky rose, plum purple eye, green throat |
| Foliage | Medium green, arching, semi-evergreen |
| Size | Foliage about 13 inches; scapes to about 22 inches; 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks early July, with some later rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
A color match made for lavender
Plenty of daylilies contrast with lavender. Always Afternoon harmonizes with it. That plum eye sits in the same color family as lavender's purple buds, and the dusky rose petals soften the whole picture. It opens in late June, right as early English lavenders begin, so the two peak together in early July.
At 22 inches in bloom, it is short enough for the front of a bed, where you can see the detail in each flower. Plant it in groups of three between lavender mounds, leaving space for air to move around the lavender. Try layouts in the Companion Plant Planner and check timing on the Lavender Bloom Calendar.
Planting and care
- Planting: soak bare roots briefly, spread them over a mound of soil and set the crown about an inch below the surface.
- Soil: average and well drained. Once established it handles heat, clay and dry spells.
- Rebloom: remove spent scapes promptly after the main flush to encourage later flowers.
- Daily tidying: each flower lasts a day. Snap off the faded ones for a clean look.
- Winter: semi-evergreen and reliably hardy in Michigan within its zone range. A light mulch the first winter helps prevent heaving.
Leaf streak can show up in wet, humid summers, and soggy soil leads to crown rot, so the drainage that suits lavender suits this daylily too.
Why the long day matters
Most daylilies are done by suppertime. Always Afternoon keeps its flowers open into the evening, which means you actually get to enjoy them after work. For anyone who only sees the garden at dinner, that is a bigger deal than any award.
Frequently asked questions
Does it rebloom?
Yes, moderately. After the main flush from late June, it sends up some later repeat scapes.
Is it good for cutting?
Not really, since each bloom lasts a single day. It shines in the garden.
Will it grow in heavy soil?
Once established it tolerates clay, but it needs drainage. Avoid spots where water stands.
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