Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Blackthorne Daylily: Pale Cream Petals With a Wine Purple Eye
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Blackthorne daylily pairs very pale, creamy yellow petals, touched with peach, with a bold wine purple eye and a matching purple picotee edge that runs partway up each ruffled petal. A glowing chartreuse throat and a fine diamond-dust sparkle finish the look. It has received an Honorable Mention from the American Hemerocallis Society.
It is a flower with two jobs in a lavender garden: the eye matches the lavender, and the petals light up everything around it.
Blackthorne at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Blackthorne' |
| Flowers | 4½ to 5 inches, creamy yellow with a wine purple eye and picotee edge |
| Foliage | Medium green, arching, semi-evergreen type |
| Size | Scapes to about 26 inches; clump 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July, lasts several weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade, at least six hours of sun |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Designing with a pale daylily
A bed of lavender can read as one big purple-gray mass from a distance. Pale flowers break that up. Blackthorne's creamy petals stand out against the lavender, especially in the soft light of morning and evening, while the wine purple eye ties the flower back to the lavender's color so it never looks out of place.
At about 26 inches tall in bloom, it fits behind lower lavenders or alongside taller ones. Plant it in groups of three for a clear patch of cream, and leave space so air keeps moving around each lavender mound. It opens in early July with the lavender at full color, so the two peak together.
Planting and care
- Planting: set the bare root crown about an inch below the soil surface, spread the roots and water in well.
- First winter: a light mulch and good drainage help prevent heaving and crown rot.
- In bloom: each flower lasts a day. Snap off spent ones for a tidy clump.
- After bloom: cut bare scapes to the base.
- Long term: divide crowded clumps every few years. Once established, it handles heat, clay and dry spells.
Leaf streak and leaf spot can appear in wet summers. Daylilies are toxic to cats, so plant with that in mind if yours roam the garden.
What the terms mean
An eye is the band of darker color near the center of a daylily. A picotee is a contrasting edge on the petals. Semi-evergreen means the foliage partly dies back in winter rather than fully disappearing or staying green. Blackthorne has all three.
Frequently asked questions
Does Blackthorne rebloom?
Rebloom is low. Expect one main flush from early July lasting several weeks.
Is it fragrant?
No notable fragrance. It is grown for its color pattern.
How many should I plant?
Three plants spaced about 18 to 24 inches apart make a strong patch that reads well from a distance.
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