Product Description
Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' Daylily (Stamile, 1991) (25) Bare Root Plants
RAINBOW RHYTHM® Collection
Common Name: Daylily
One look and it’s easy to see why this incredible daylily is a multiple award winner! The gigantic 9”, dark ruby red flowers are officially classified as “unusual form-spatulate” since the petals are long and spoon-shaped. The petals open very wide and flat, displaying the large, golden yellow throat and matching midribs nicely.
Planted en masse, this outstanding daylily is sure to make a huge visual impact in the landscape!
- Early Bloomer.
- Dormant foliage.
- Tetraploid with 44 chromosomes.
- Parents: Velvet Widow x Tet. Open Hearth
American Hemerocallis Society Honorable Mention (AHS first stamp of approval) -- 1999
American Hemerocallis Society Award of Merit (Outstanding beauty and performance over a wide area of the country) -- 2002
American Hemerocallis Society Popularity Poll (Conducted annually to determine the favorite daylilies among AHS members from each region of the country)
American Hemerocallis Society Lenington All-American Award (Best performer in all areas of the country) -- 2011
American Hemerocallis Society R. W. Munson, Jr. Award (Most outstanding distinctly patterned daylily) -- 2005
American Hemerocallis Society President's Cup Award -- 2004
American Hemerocallis Society Lambert/Webster Award (Best unusual form cultivar) -- 2002
Height: 34 Inches
Spread: 18.0-24.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Red shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) - Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Low to Average Water Needs
Poor to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early Summer
Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Bee Friendly
Rabbit Resistant
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Easy To Grow, Fragrant Flowers, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant
The Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' daylily is a stunning, award-winning variety that is sure to turn heads in any garden. This exceptional cultivar is renowned for its incredibly large, ruby-red flowers with contrasting golden throats. In 2002, it even received the prestigious Award of Merit from the American Daylily Society! The flowers can reach up to 9 inches wide and have a unique spidery shape due to their "spatulate" petals, which are long and spoon-shaped. As a tetraploid, the 'Ruby Spider' daylily boasts twice as many chromosomes as diploid daylilies, resulting in larger, more vigorous plants with an abundance of flowers. It is also a Proven Winners variety, known for its exceptional performance and hardiness.
Characteristics The Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' daylily is a clump-forming perennial that grows up to 34 inches tall and spreads slowly via rhizomes to 18-24 inches. It features arching, linear leaves that maintain a rich green color throughout the growing season. Each flower typically lasts no more than 24 hours, opening in the morning and withering the following night. However, each scape (flower stalk) produces a profusion of flowers, ensuring an extended bloom period. The flowers are excellent for cutting and can be used in bouquets or floral arrangements. This daylily is a result of a cross between 'Velvet Widow' and 'Tet. Open Hearth'.
The 'Ruby Spider' daylily is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in a variety of conditions. It is drought-tolerant and adaptable to a wide range of soils, from sandy to clay. While it prefers full sun to part sun and well-drained soil, it is also tolerant of pollution, black walnut trees, and salt. Generally, daylilies are non-toxic to dogs, making them a safe choice for gardens with canine companions.
Bloom Time The Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' daylily blooms from midsummer to early fall. As an early bloomer, it typically starts flowering in June. The exact bloom time may vary slightly depending on the climate and specific growing conditions.
Growing Conditions The Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' daylily is a remarkably tough and adaptable plant that can thrive in a wide range of conditions. It prefers full sun to part sun and well-drained soil, but it can also tolerate wetter conditions. The ideal time to plant daylilies is in early fall or early spring. Here are some specific growing conditions for the 'Ruby Spider' daylily:
- Light: Full sun to part sun
- Soil: Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-draining soils. Daylilies perform well in a wide range of soils but prefer deep, fertile loam.
- Water: Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Benefits from a thin layer of mulch in spring to retain soil moisture.
- Fertilizing: Avoid excessive fertilizing, as this can inhibit flower production.
- Spacing: Space plants 1.5 to 2 feet apart to allow for adequate growth and air circulation.
- Winterizing: You can allow the foliage to remain for the winter and then remove spent foliage in spring as new growth emerges.
- Maintenance & pruning: Remove individual spent flowers and cut back flower stalks once all flowers are gone. Divide plants every three to four years as new growth begins in the spring.
Companion Plants Daylilies are known to blend well with other sun-loving perennials. Here are some excellent companion plants for the 'Ruby Spider' daylily:
- Agastache: These fragrant plants with colorful flower spikes add vertical interest and attract pollinators.
- Coreopsis: Their cheerful, daisy-like flowers provide long-lasting color and contrast with the 'Ruby Spider's' deep red blooms.
- Echinacea: Coneflowers are another pollinator magnet and offer a variety of colors to complement the 'Ruby Spider' daylily.
- Gaillardia: Blanket flowers bring vibrant hues and a touch of wildflower charm to the garden.
- Ornamental grasses: Their graceful foliage adds texture and movement, creating a dynamic backdrop for the 'Ruby Spider' daylily.
- Nepeta: Catmint's soft, gray-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers provide a lovely contrast and attract beneficial insects.
- Penstemon: These long-blooming perennials offer a wide range of colors and forms to complement the 'Ruby Spider' daylily.
- Perovskia: Russian sage's airy, lavender-blue flowers and silvery foliage create a beautiful contrast with the 'Ruby Spider's' bold blooms.
- Salvia: Salvias offer a variety of colors and textures, and many attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Sedum: Stonecrops provide late-season interest with their succulent foliage and colorful flower clusters.
Other companion plants that have been recommended include:
- Clematis 'Stand by Me': This compact clematis with deep purple flowers can be trained to climb through the 'Ruby Spider' daylily, adding vertical interest.
- Echinacea 'Yellow My Darling': This coneflower variety with bright yellow flowers creates a striking contrast with the 'Ruby Spider's' red blooms.
- Leucanthemum 'Banana Cream II': This Shasta daisy cultivar with creamy yellow flowers adds a touch of elegance and softens the 'Ruby Spider's' bold color.
- Pennisetum 'Lemon Squeeze': This ornamental grass with chartreuse foliage adds a bright and airy touch to the garden.
- Phlox 'Opalescence': This garden phlox variety with lavender-pink flowers creates a harmonious blend with the 'Ruby Spider' daylily.
- Rudbeckia 'American Gold Rush': This black-eyed Susan cultivar with golden-yellow flowers adds a cheerful touch and attracts pollinators.
- Gypsophila paniculata (Baby's Breath): This airy plant with delicate white flowers adds a touch of romance and softens the 'Ruby Spider's' bold color.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Sage): This sage variety with deep purple flower spikes adds vertical interest and attracts pollinators.
- Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' (Coneflower): This coneflower variety with pure white flowers creates a classic and elegant contrast with the 'Ruby Spider's' red blooms.
- Geranium Rozanne (Cranesbill): This hardy geranium with violet-blue flowers provides long-lasting color and ground cover.
The Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' daylily is a truly exceptional choice for any garden. Its award-winning status, vibrant ruby-red flowers with golden throats, and unique "spatulate" petals make it a standout performer. This tetraploid daylily is not only beautiful but also incredibly easy to grow, tolerating a wide range of conditions, including drought, pollution, and salt. Blooming from midsummer to early fall, it provides long-lasting color and can be used in various garden settings, from borders to containers. The 'Ruby Spider' daylily's versatility and low-maintenance nature make it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Consider pairing it with companion plants like Agastache, Coreopsis, or ornamental grasses to create a truly stunning display.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
