Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Marquee Moon Daylily: Ruffled Cream Blooms for Late July
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Marquee Moon daylily is one of the top pale daylilies, with large, rounded flowers 5 to 5½ inches across in soft cream, extravagantly ruffled at the edges. A yellow throat glows outward onto the petals, a thin yellow picotee traces each edge, and in sun a fine diamond-dust sparkle shows on the surface. On cloudy days you may catch a hint of peach. The flowers carry a light, sweet scent, and scapes can hold up to 40 buds that open one after another.
Marquee Moon at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Marquee Moon' |
| Flowers | 5 to 5½ inches, cream with a yellow throat and yellow picotee, ruffled |
| Foliage | Arching, strap-shaped, medium green; dormant type |
| Size | Foliage about 14 inches; scapes about 24 inches; 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-July, peaks late July, lasting several weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Fragrance | Light and sweet, noticeable up close |
| Deer | Susceptible |
A cream accent for the lavender garden
Marquee Moon shares lavender's need for sun and good drainage, and once established it handles heat and dry spells. Its timing is what makes it useful: it opens in mid-July and peaks in late July, after the main English lavender bloom. As you harvest or shear the lavender, the creamy flowers take over and keep the planting bright.
Pale cream also flatters purple in a way bright orange daylilies do not. Plant a clump at the back or end of a lavender bed, or along a sunny walk next to it, keeping its arching leaves from flopping onto lavender crowns. Lay it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting the bare root
- Depth: set the crown about an inch below the soil, roots spread over a small mound of soil, and water well.
- Sun: at least six hours for the best bloom.
- Soil: average and well drained; it tolerates clay once established, but avoid soggy spots.
- Spacing: give each clump about two feet.
Care and grooming
Each flower lasts a day, so snapping off faded blooms each morning keeps the clump looking tidy. When a scape is finished, cut it to the base. Divide crowded clumps every few years. Marquee Moon is a dormant type that dies back completely in fall and is fully hardy in Michigan; clean up the foliage after a hard frost and keep winter soil from staying soggy. Blooms can spot after rain, and leaf streak shows up more in wet summers, but it is generally trouble-free.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really white?
It is soft cream with yellow accents and looks near-white in bright sun. It is one of the best pale daylilies.
Do deer eat daylilies?
Yes, deer like them. If they visit your yard, plan some protection for the buds.
Can I cut the flowers?
Because each bloom lasts only a day, daylilies are poor cut flowers. Enjoy them in the garden.
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