Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Passionate Returns Daylily: Rosy Red Color for Months
Save
Passionate Returns daylily is an everblooming type with neatly formed, ruffled flowers about 4 inches across in rosy red, set off by a small yellow-green throat. In northern gardens it starts in early July and can keep producing for about three and a half months, thanks to multiple branched scapes loaded with buds.
The flowers sit right at the top of the low foliage, so the whole clump looks crowned in color.
Passionate Returns at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Passionate Returns' |
| Flowers | About 4 inches, ruffled rosy red with a yellow-green throat |
| Fragrance | Light and sweet up close |
| Size | Scapes about 17 inches; foliage about 10 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks late July, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
The edging that does not take a summer off
Edging plants have a hard job. They sit where everyone looks, so they need to stay tidy and colorful for a long time. Passionate Returns earns the spot: its foliage clump is only about 10 inches tall, its scapes top out around 17 inches, and it blooms from early July well into fall. In front of lavender it adds rosy red under purple during July, then carries the bed alone after the lavender is cut.
Both plants appreciate sun and soil that drains, and the daylily handles heat, clay and dry spells once established. Space the clumps a little forward of the lavender so the arching leaves do not lean into its crowns. The Companion Plant Planner makes spacing easy to picture.
Keeping the blooms coming
- Daily habit: snap off spent flowers. It takes seconds and keeps the clump looking fresh.
- Scapes: pull finished scapes so the plant puts energy into new ones.
- Water: regular during the first season, then mainly in long dry spells.
- Division: split crowded clumps every few years to keep flowering strong.
Winter and containers
It has semi-evergreen foliage and is reliably hardy in Michigan within its zone range; a light mulch the first winter and good drainage help prevent crown rot and heaving. Its short height also makes it a good container plant. Use a large pot with drainage and water more often than in the ground.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from Pardon Me?
Both are compact red rebloomers. Passionate Returns has larger, 4-inch rosy red flowers and starts a bit earlier; Pardon Me has smaller cranberry flowers.
Is it safe for pets?
All parts of daylilies are toxic to cats, so plant it where cats will not chew on it.
Share how it went in your field