Product Description
Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Daylily
Another beautiful daylily from renowned daylily breeder Karol Emmerich! 6in triangular shaped flowers are peach with a wine purple eye. Like watercolor paint, the purple color blends to lavender purple toward the yellow throat for a stunning display. A thin, purple picotee edge frames the edge of the blooms.
- Midseason Bloomer, blooming in July.
- Rebloomer, producing a second set of flowers.
- Fragrant flowers.
- Semi-Evergreen foliage.
- Tetraploid with 44 chromosomes
Height: 24 Inches
Spread: 18.0-24.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Purple 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: Midsummer - Late Summer, Rebloomer
Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Bee Friendly
Rabbit Resistant
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant
Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' is a daylily cultivar that stands out for its unique color pattern and reblooming habit. This daylily was hybridized by Karol Emmerich and introduced in 2007. It is a seedling of 'Destined to See' x 'Open My Eyes'. This cultivar received an Honorable Mention from the American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) in 2011.
Characteristics This daylily has triangular-shaped flowers that are about 6 inches in size. The flowers are a beautiful blend of peach, purple, and yellow. The base color is peach with a wine-purple eye zone that blends to lavender purple toward the yellow throat. A thin, purple picotee edge frames the blooms. The overall effect is reminiscent of a watercolor painting, making it a truly unique and eye-catching daylily.
Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' grows to a height of 24 inches with a spread of 18-24 inches. It is a tetraploid cultivar, meaning it has twice as many chromosomes as diploid daylilies. This results in larger, more vigorous plants with more substantial flowers. It is also fragrant, a characteristic not found in all daylilies. The foliage is semi-evergreen, providing some green color even in milder winters.
This cultivar is a midseason bloomer, with its primary bloom time in June and July. It is a diurnal bloomer, meaning the flowers open in the morning and close at night. However, it is also a rebloomer, meaning it will produce a second flush of flowers later in the season, typically in late summer to early fall. Each scape has 16-20 buds and 4-way branching, ensuring a long and prolific bloom season.
Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' is hardy in USDA zones 3-9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is tolerant of a variety of soil conditions, including clay soil and coastal conditions. It can even tolerate growing under Black Walnut trees, which produce a substance called juglone that is toxic to many plants.
Care Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' is a relatively low-maintenance plant. Here are some basic care instructions:
- Planting: Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots without bending them. The roots should be just below the soil surface with the crown at the soil level.
- Watering: Water regularly, especially during the first growing season, but avoid overwatering. Once established, daylilies are fairly drought-tolerant.
- Fertilizing: Fertilizing is generally not necessary during the first few weeks of growth. Actively growing daylilies are moderate feeders. You can apply a controlled-release fertilizer with a rate of 1 lb of nitrogen per yard of growing media or a liquid fertilizer program with 50-100 ppm nitrate.
- Soil pH: The ideal soil pH for daylilies is 6.0-6.5.
- Pruning: Deadhead spent flower stems to encourage reblooming and maintain a tidy appearance. Deadheading may not extend the bloom time in all cases. Cut back the foliage to about 2 inches in late fall.
- Overwintering: Trim plants back to 2 inches late in the season. If done too early, regrowth will occur. Cover with protective frost cloth if placed outside in a cold frame. Provide ventilation whenever temperatures rise above 40° F.
- Pests and Diseases: Daylilies are generally pest-free, but aphids, spider mites, and thrips can sometimes be a problem. Crown rot sometimes occurs after overwintering. In warmer climates, daylily rust can be an issue, but it is not a problem in colder climates like Michigan.
- For Commercial Growers: Drench with Sumagic at 1 ppm when grown under greenhouse conditions. Late summer planting has the distinct advantage of producing bigger plants with more flowers. Allow at least 6-8 weeks for rooting before temperatures remain below freezing. Avoid fertilizing at this time.
Companion Plants Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' can be beautifully combined with other perennials to create stunning garden displays. Some suggested companion plants include:
- Coreopsis 'Curry Up': This coreopsis variety has bright yellow flowers that would contrast nicely with the peach and purple tones of the daylily.
- Heuchera 'Black Pearl': The dark purple foliage of this heuchera would provide a dramatic backdrop for the daylily's colorful blooms.
- Leucanthemum 'Whoops-a-Daisy': This compact Shasta daisy has white flowers with yellow centers, adding a classic touch to the planting.
- Veronica 'Royal Rembrandt': The tall spikes of purple flowers on this veronica would add height and vertical interest to the garden.
- Phlox 'Glamour Girl': This phlox has fragrant pink flowers that would blend well with the daylily's color scheme.
- Echinacea: Coneflowers add vibrant color and height, complementing the daylily's blooms.
- Achillea: Yarrow complements the daylily with its feathery foliage and flat flower clusters.
Hemerocallis 'Handwriting on the Wall' is a beautiful and rewarding daylily cultivar that is well-suited for a variety of gardens and garden styles, including cottage gardens, borders, and containers. Its unique watercolor-like color pattern, fragrance, and reblooming habit make it a standout performer. With its relatively easy care requirements and tolerance of various conditions, it is a great choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Older varieties of daylilies tend to spread more rapidly than newer hybrids.
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!
