Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Star of the North Daylily: Triangular Yellow Blooms, Wine Eyes
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Star of the North daylily is easy to recognize from across the garden. Its flowers, about 5 to 5½ inches across, have an unusual triangular shape, with pale yellow petals, a large wine purple eye, a razor-thin wine purple edge and a green throat. They are lightly fragrant and carried on well-branched 34-inch scapes with plenty of buds and good rebloom.
The wine purple eye echoes lavender, while the pale yellow brightens the whole planting.
Star of the North at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hemerocallis 'Star of the North' |
| Flowers | Triangular, pale yellow with a wine purple eye and thin edge, about 5 to 5½ inches |
| Foliage | Medium green, arching; dies back in winter |
| Size | Scapes to about 34 inches; foliage about 20 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks late July, some rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Wildlife | Deer find it tasty |
Yellow and purple, with a twist
Yellow is purple's complement, so any yellow daylily brightens lavender. Star of the North adds a tie-in: its wine purple eye and fine edge repeat lavender's color right in the center of each flower. The pale, buttery yellow keeps the pairing soft rather than loud. Its peak in late July, a little later than many daylilies, also carries color past lavender's main flush.
At 34 inches, the scapes stand tall above the arching foliage, so plant it behind or at the end of a lavender row where the flowers rise above the purple. Daylilies handle heavier soil than lavender, so give the daylily the edge of the bed and keep lavender on the best-drained ground. Lay it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care notes
- Sun: at least six hours for the best bloom. It is very heat tolerant.
- Soil: average and well drained. Once established it handles clay, heat and dry spells.
- Deadheading: each bloom lasts a day. Remove spent scapes after the flush to encourage a later round.
- Wet seasons: blooms can spot after rain, and leaf streak or leaf spot is more common in humid summers.
- Fall: a dormant type that dies back fully and is hardy in Michigan. Clean up foliage after a hard frost and avoid soggy winter soil.
- Every few years: divide crowded clumps.
Bare root format
Star of the North is offered as a bare root plant. Soak the roots briefly, spread them over a mound of soil in the planting hole, set the crown about an inch deep and water well. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the flower triangular?
The petals and sepals form a distinct triangular outline rather than the usual round shape, which makes it stand out in a bed of daylilies.
Is it fragrant?
Lightly. The flowers have a sweet scent noticeable up close.
Is it safe around cats?
No. All parts of daylilies are toxic to cats.
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