Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Don't Lose Heart Daylily: Pink and Cranberry to Soften Lavender
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Don't Lose Heart daylily opens broad, 5½-inch flowers in a rich blend of pink and cranberry. A large pink eye zone spreads almost to the edges of the petals, which are trimmed in cranberry red and pink, all around a vivid green throat. The scapes stay compact at about 22 inches over a tidy clump of arching leaves.
Don't Lose Heart at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Don't Lose Heart' |
| Flowers | Pink and cranberry with a green throat, about 5½ inches |
| Foliage | Medium green, arching, semi-evergreen |
| Size | Foliage about 13 inches; scapes about 22 inches; 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | One main flush, early to mid-July, lasting several weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
A softer color story
Some daylilies shout next to lavender. This one harmonizes. Pink and cranberry sit close to purple on the color wheel, so they blend with lavender instead of contrasting with it. The result is a warm, romantic bed: purple spikes, silver leaves and broad pink trumpets. It is a natural fit for cottage gardens, and the green throat adds a fresh note that keeps the pinks from feeling heavy.
Its size makes placement easy. At about 22 inches, the flowers sit at a similar height to many English lavenders, so plant it beside or between lavender groups rather than behind them. Leave a little space so the daylily's arching leaves do not lean into the lavender mounds. The Companion Plant Planner can help with spacing.
Planting and care
- Planting: soak the bare roots, fan them over a mound of soil and set the crown about an inch below the surface. Water in well.
- Soil: average and well drained. Established plants handle heat, clay and dry spells.
- During bloom: each flower lasts a day. Snap off faded ones for a tidy look.
- After bloom: cut bare scapes to the base.
- Fall and winter: cut foliage back after hard frost and mulch new plantings the first winter. Avoid soggy soil.
In wet summers, blooms may spot after rain and leaf streak can appear. Good spacing helps leaves dry quickly, which keeps both the daylily and the lavender healthier.
Where it works best
Beyond lavender beds, Don't Lose Heart suits mass plantings, sunny slopes and the front or middle of a mixed border. It is offered as a bare root plant; see the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does it rebloom?
It has one main flush with low rebloom, but that flush lasts several weeks in July because each scape carries many buds.
Is it safe for cats?
No. All parts of daylilies are toxic to cats. Plant it where cats will not nibble.
Can I cut the flowers?
Daylilies are poor cut flowers since each bloom lasts one day. Enjoy them in the garden.
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