Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Buttered Popcorn Daylily: Big Fragrant Yellow Behind Lavender
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Buttered Popcorn daylily is a long-time favorite among large-flowered reblooming daylilies. Its six-inch flowers are a solid butter yellow with just a tiny green throat, broad and gently ruffled, and they carry a mild fragrance. It has earned an Award of Merit from daylily growers.
At about 32 inches tall in bloom, it is taller than most daylilies, which makes it a natural choice for planting behind lavender rather than in front. It likes the same full sun and well-drained soil.
Buttered Popcorn at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Buttered Popcorn' |
| Flowers | Solid butter yellow, about 6 inches, tiny green throat, mildly fragrant |
| Height | Flower stems about 32 inches; foliage about 19 inches |
| Spread | 18 to 24 inches |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July, reblooms through late summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Tall yellow behind the purple
Big, clear yellow flowers held above a purple lavender bed is a classic, cheerful combination. Buttered Popcorn's height puts its blooms right above the lavender spikes, so the two colors layer instead of competing. It starts in early July, during lavender's peak, and the rebloom keeps yellow in the garden after the lavender has been harvested.
Its arching leaves form a fountain about 19 inches tall and up to two feet wide. Set clumps far enough behind the lavender that the foliage does not drape over the lavender mounds and trap moisture. Plan the back row in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Sun: at least six hours for the best bloom.
- Soil: average and well drained. Once established it handles heat, clay and dry spells.
- Planting bare root: spread the roots over a mound of soil, set the crown about an inch below the surface and water well.
- Deadheading: remove each day's spent flowers and pull scapes once all their buds have opened.
- Dividing: split crowded clumps every few years to keep the flower count high.
- Winter: a dormant type, fully hardy in Michigan. Clean up the foliage after hard frost.
Daylilies are generally trouble-free. Blooms can spot after rain, and leaf streak appears in wet, humid summers. Deer browse daylilies, so protect them where deer are common.
Ordering format
Buttered Popcorn is offered as a bare root plant. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is the fragrance?
It is mild. You will notice it with your nose close to an open flower, not from across the yard.
Is it good for cut flowers?
Not really. Each flower lasts one day, so it is best enjoyed in the garden.
Will it bloom in part shade?
It tolerates light part shade, but more sun means more flowers.
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