Little daylilies (Hemerocallis) tend to make up for their small dimensions by putting on an amazing flower display. This behaviour, plus gorgeous golden yellow flowers, makes Hemerocallis ‘Stella Bella’ a gem for gardens large and small. Also very much in its favour is the typical daylily ability to grow in all sorts of soils, including the dry and the relatively poor. Don’t be put off by the common name of daylily for the genus Hemerocallis - the flowers are only at peak condition for a day, but they keep on coming for a long time during summer, months on end in the case of top mini varieties of which ‘Stella Bella’ is one of the most notable.
Obviously ‘Stella Bella’ has all the right credentials, but what do you do with it in the garden? Well, the options are many and varied. You can plant it in a group as an impressive and practical ground cover - it’s an effective weed suppressor as well as a good looker. Planted as a row so it forms an edging to borders it’s classy, adding that finishing touch and helping with maintenance because such an edging stops birds scratching soil onto paths.
Mixed with other low growing perennials it takes on a different dimension. For a classy look try growing it among heucheras with wine coloured foliage or with Cosmos ‘Hot Chocolate’ which has richly coloured and scented flowers. Or go bolder, by growing a group in the foreground of one of the new, single flowered, compact growing Dahlias, such as ‘Scarlet Fern’ which has dark bronze foliage to set off the dazzling flowers.
Daylilies combine well with some of our native plants too. Among many intriguing combinations are Hemerocallis ‘Stella Bella’ with dark coloured flaxes (Phormium), such as the new and very bold ‘Black Rage’. Or use ‘Stella Bella’ with colourful cabbage tree (Cordyline) varieties such as ‘Red Star’ or the low growing ‘Red Fountain’.
In sun baked situations, Hemerocalls ‘Stella Bella’ looks stunning grouped with the exciting new Gazania variety ‘Sunset Jane’ in the foreground of Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ which has wine red, strap shaped foliage and pineapple shaped flowers on sturdy stems which come in mid summer and last for months.
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Schemes & Themes
using Liddle Wonder Plants