Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Chicago Apache Daylily: Scarlet Blooms as Lavender Winds Down
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Chicago Apache daylily has been a favorite red since 1981 for good reason. Its 5-inch flowers are an intense, velvety scarlet with a small sulfur-yellow watermark and a green throat, held on sturdy, branched stems about 30 inches tall. The color is notably sunfast, and the plant is less bothered by thrips than many red daylilies.
It blooms as lavender's main flush finishes, so it is a handy way to keep a sunny lavender bed lively into late July.
Chicago Apache at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Chicago Apache' |
| Flowers | About 5 inches, scarlet red with a sulfur-yellow watermark and green throat |
| Foliage | Medium green, arching; dies back fully in fall |
| Size | Foliage about 18 inches; flower stems to 30 inches; 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-July, peaks late July, for several weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Red beside purple
Scarlet and lavender purple make a bold, high-contrast pair, and Chicago Apache's strap-like, arching leaves give a fountain shape that reads nothing like a lavender mound. Plant it behind or at the ends of a lavender row in the same sunny, well-drained soil. Once established it handles heat, clay and dry spells, so it is a forgiving neighbor.
Timing is the bonus. Lavender peaks in late June and early July; Chicago Apache picks up in mid-July and peaks late in the month, often while the harvested lavender is hanging to dry. Plan the sequence in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Planting: set the bare root crown about an inch below the soil surface with roots spread out, and water well.
- Light: at least six hours of sun. In strong afternoon sun, dark petals can fade a little, so light afternoon shade keeps the scarlet richest.
- Soil: average and well-drained. Avoid soggy winter spots, which cause crown rot.
- Deadheading: each flower lasts one day. Snap off spent blooms for a tidy look and cut finished stems to the base.
- Problems: generally trouble-free. Leaf streak or leaf spot can show up in wet summers.
- Fall: clean up the foliage after a hard frost.
Divide crowded clumps every few years to keep them blooming freely.
A note for cat owners
All parts of daylilies are toxic to cats. If your cats roam the garden, plant Chicago Apache where they are unlikely to chew it, or choose a different red. It is an ornamental and not a plant for eating, and the flowers do not last when cut, so enjoy them in the garden.
About the bare root plant
Chicago Apache is offered as a bare root plant, which settles in quickly in spring or early fall. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does it rebloom?
It has one main flush from mid-July that lasts several weeks, with many buds opening in turn.
Will the red fade in full sun?
The color is known for being sunfast, though a little afternoon shade keeps it at its deepest in hot spells.
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