Gothic Grenadine Daylily: Near-Black Red With Pie-Crust Edges

Gothic Grenadine daylily is about as dark as red daylilies get. The flowers are big, about 6 inches across, with thick, heavy petals in a deep red that has a velvety sheen, finished with ruffled pie-crust edges around a small green-yellow throat. With more than 30 buds on each branched stem, it keeps that dark drama going through late July.

Next to lavender, it is the plant equivalent of a bold lipstick: one dark accent that makes the soft purples and silvers around it look even lighter.

Gothic Grenadine at a glance

Designing with a dark flower

Dark flowers can disappear in a busy border, so they work best against something pale. Lavender's silver-gray foliage is ideal. Place Gothic Grenadine just behind a row of lavender so the deep red stems rise above the silver, or alternate clumps of each along a sunny walk. Its bloom starts in mid-July as English lavender peaks, and the high bud count carries it into the weeks after harvest. White or pale yellow flowers nearby sharpen the effect further. Try combinations in the Companion Plant Planner.

Getting the darkest color

The heavy-substance petals hold up well in full sun, and the plant is vigorous. That said, dark petals absorb heat, and strong afternoon sun can fade or scorch them a little. If you have a spot with full morning sun and light afternoon shade, that keeps the color at its richest while still giving the six hours it needs to flower well.

Planting and care

• Planting: set the bare root crown about an inch below the soil surface and water it in.
• Soil: average and well drained. Established plants handle heat, clay and dry spells.
• Grooming: each flower lasts a day; snap them off for a tidy look and cut finished stems to the base.
• Health: watch for leaf streak or leaf spot in wet summers and crown rot in soggy soil. Rain can spot open blooms.
• Winter: hardy in Michigan. Cut back foliage after a hard frost and mulch new plantings their first winter.

Before you plant

All parts of daylilies are toxic to cats, so keep them out of reach if your cats like to chew plants. Deer also find daylilies tasty. Gothic Grenadine is offered as a bare root plant; see the product page for current availability.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really almost black?

It is a very deep, velvety red. In low light it can look nearly black, and in sun the red glows.

Does it rebloom?

It has one main flush, but with more than 30 buds per stem, that flush lasts several weeks.

Keep exploring

• Gothic Grenadine Daylily Bare Root Plant
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner
• Wishlist