Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Pooh Bear Daylily: Golden Orange Contrast for Purple Lavender
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Pooh Bear daylily is hard to miss. Its full, ruffled flowers are a glowing golden orange, about 4.5 inches across, with a burgundy eye and a thin burgundy edge. Branched scapes lift them to about 32 inches, well above a fountain of arching green leaves, and they carry a light, sweet scent up close.
If you like your garden with some punch, this is the companion for it. Golden orange sits across the color wheel from purple, so Pooh Bear makes lavender look even more purple.
Pooh Bear at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Pooh Bear' |
| Flowers | Golden orange with a burgundy eye and edge, about 4.5 inches across |
| Foliage | Arching, strap-shaped, medium green, semi-evergreen type |
| Size | Scapes to about 32 inches; foliage about 19 inches; 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July, one main flush lasting several weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Fragrance | Light and sweet, noticeable up close |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Designing with contrast
Most lavender companions are chosen to blend: pinks, whites, soft blues. Pooh Bear goes the other way. A clump or two behind a row of purple lavender turns the July bed into a bold, warm-and-cool picture, and the burgundy eye ties the orange back to deeper purple cultivars. Taller lavenders such as lavandins are a good match for its 32-inch scapes.
Use it sparingly for a pop, or in a mass on a slope where its tough roots help hold soil. Keep the arching leaves from flopping onto lavender mounds, which need clear air around them. Sketch it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Growing a robust daylily
- Sun: full sun to light part shade, with at least six hours for the best bloom. It is very heat tolerant.
- Soil: average and well drained. Once established it handles heat, clay and dry spells.
- Bloom season: each flower lasts one day. Snap off faded blooms for a tidy look and cut finished scapes to the base.
- Wet summers: blooms can spot after rain, and leaf streak is more common in humid weather.
- Every few years: divide crowded clumps.
First winter
Pooh Bear is reliably hardy in Michigan within its zone range. A light mulch over new plantings the first winter, plus good drainage, helps prevent crown rot and heaving.
About the bare root plant
Pooh Bear is offered as a dormant bare root plant. Set the crown about an inch below the soil surface with the roots spread out, firm the soil and water well. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pooh Bear safe around cats?
No. All parts of daylilies are toxic to cats, so keep it out of reach of curious pets.
Does it rebloom?
It has one main flush that lasts several weeks in July rather than strong repeat bloom.
How do I keep deer off it?
Daylilies are a favorite of deer. Fencing, or planting closer to the house, is the most reliable approach.
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