Product Description
Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Daylily
A compact reblooming daylily with intricate blooms for a front of the border impact. 5" wide lavender purple flowers with dark purple eyes. 'Kansas Kitten' is a solid rebloomer with a high bud count on well-branched scapes.
Daylilies can survive many harsh conditions that other plants cannot including: polluted city environments, slopes, poor and dry soils, near pavement that is salted in winter, and under Black Walnut trees (not affected by juglone).
- Midseason Bloomer, blooming in July.
- Rebloomer, producing a second set of flowers.
- Dormant foliage.
- Fragrant flowers.
- Diurnal, flowers open early in the morning.
- Diploid with 22 chromosomes.
Height: 22.0 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) to Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Low to Average Water Needs
Poor to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Midsummer, Rebloomer
Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Bee Friendly
Rabbit Resistant
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Easy To Grow, Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant, Focal Point
This captivating daylily cultivar, Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten', is a must-have for any garden enthusiast. With its enchanting lavender-purple blooms, compact growth habit, and remarkable resilience, it is no surprise that this daylily has become a beloved choice among gardeners. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the characteristics, bloom time, growing conditions, care tips, and companion plants that make Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' a true standout perennial.
Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' is a compact daylily, typically reaching a height of 22 inches with a spread of 18-24 inches . Its most captivating feature is its intricate 5-inch wide flowers, boasting lavender-purple petals adorned with a deep purple eye and a contrasting yellow-green throat . The flowers have ruffled edges and slightly recurved petals, adding to their visual allure . This cultivar is a rebloomer, meaning it graces the garden with a second set of flowers later in the season, extending its bloom time and providing continued enjoyment . Adding to its charm, the flowers are fragrant, filling the air with a delightful scent.
Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' is a diploid plant with 22 chromosomes . It has dormant foliage, meaning the leaves die back in the winter and re-emerge in the spring . The foliage is grass-like, linear, and long, providing a lush backdrop for the vibrant blooms . This cultivar is known for its high bud count, with each stem boasting 21-25 buds . The stems are well-branched, typically with 5 branches, contributing to the abundance of flowers.
Like other daylilies, 'Kansas Kitten' is remarkably adaptable and can thrive even in challenging conditions such as polluted city environments, slopes, poor and dry soils, and near pavement that is salted in winter . This makes it an excellent choice for gardeners facing various environmental constraints. It is also worth noting that 'Kansas Kitten' is not native to North America and has received an Honorable Mention from the American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) in 2005.
Bloom Time Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' is a midseason bloomer, with its primary bloom time occurring in July . As a rebloomer, it produces a second flush of flowers in late summer to early fall . This extended bloom period makes it a valuable addition to the garden, providing color and interest throughout the summer months. While each individual flower lasts only a day , the plant produces a profusion of buds that open over an extended period, ensuring a long-lasting display of color. The reblooming nature of 'Kansas Kitten' is a key advantage, providing a longer period of vibrant blooms compared to daylilies that bloom only once.
Growing Conditions Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' is a hardy plant that thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9 . It prefers full sun to part shade, with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal flowering . While it can tolerate some shade, particularly in hotter climates, full sun generally leads to better performance.
This daylily is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, from normal to slightly wet to dry . It prefers well-drained soil with a pH approaching neutral . While it can tolerate poor soil, it performs best in soil rich in organic matter . Daylilies are known for their drought tolerance once established, but consistent moisture is beneficial for optimal growth and flowering . Additionally, 'Kansas Kitten' exhibits salt tolerance, making it suitable for areas near pavement that may be exposed to salt during winter.
It is worth noting that 'Kansas Kitten' shows susceptibility to daylily rust . However, this fungal disease is not usually a major problem in most climates.
Care and Maintenance Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten', like most daylilies, is a relatively low-maintenance plant that requires minimal care once established. However, a few key practices can help ensure its health and vigor:
- Dividing/Transplanting: Daylilies benefit from division every 3 to 5 years, and reblooming varieties like 'Kansas Kitten' may need division every two years to support new growth and encourage rebloom . This involves carefully separating the plant's clumps, ensuring each division has a healthy root system and crown.
- End-of-Season Care: In the fall, remove old foliage by cutting it back to the ground . This helps maintain the plant's appearance and prepares it for winter dormancy.
- Pest and Disease Control: While generally pest-resistant, daylilies can occasionally be affected by thrips or spider mites . Thrips can distort blooms and cause lesions on flower spikes, while spider mites can infest foliage during hot, dry weather. Use insecticidal soap or a forceful water spray to control these pests.
- Seasonal Care: Here is a concise overview of care tasks throughout the year :
- Early Spring: Apply a light application of balanced fertilizer or compost. Divide or transplant as needed.
- Mid-Spring: Water well during dry periods.
- Late Spring: Remove spent flowers daily. Watch for thrips.
- Summer: Continue deadheading, cut away spent flower scapes, and groom plants by removing yellow or dead leaves. Water regularly and apply mulch. Monitor for spider mites.
- Fall: Remove old foliage.
Companion Plants Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' harmonizes beautifully with a variety of companion plants, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and overall health of the garden. Here is a table displaying some recommended companions:
| Companion Plant | Color | Benefits/Features |
| Platycodon | Blue | Adds a contrasting color and vertical interest |
| Rudbeckia | Yellow | Provides a burst of sunny color and attracts pollinators |
| Liatris | Purple | Offers spiky flowers and attracts butterflies |
| Shasta Daisy | White | Creates a classic cottage garden look |
| Echinacea | Purple, Pink, White | Provides long-lasting color and attracts beneficial insects |
| Ferns, Hosta, Solomon's Seal | Various | Create a lush backdrop in shadier spots |
| Daffodils | Yellow, White | Provides early spring color and hides the dying foliage of the daffodils |
| Agastache 'Blue Fortune' | Blue | Offers fragrant flowers and attracts pollinators |
| Andropogon 'Blackhawks' | Dark Purple | Adds texture and movement with its dark foliage |
| Echinacea 'Watermelon Sugar' | Pink | Provides a unique color combination |
| Geranium 'Rozanne' | Blue | Offers long-lasting flowers and ground cover |
| Panicum 'Red Flame' | Red | Adds a fiery touch with its red foliage |
| Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' | Blue | Provides a vertical accent with its flower spikes |
Landscape Uses The versatility of Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' shines through in its various landscape applications. Its compact growth habit makes it ideal for borders, where it can add a vibrant touch of color. It also thrives in containers, allowing for flexible placement and adding a lively element to patios or decks. For a bolder statement, consider mass plantings of 'Kansas Kitten' to create a stunning sweep of lavender-purple blooms. Furthermore, its adaptability to various soil conditions and salt tolerance make it a suitable choice for erosion control on slopes or near pavement.
Hemerocallis 'Kansas Kitten' is a truly delightful daylily that offers a unique combination of beauty, hardiness, and adaptability. Its lavender-purple blooms, reblooming nature, and compact growth habit make it a versatile choice for any garden. By providing the right growing conditions and pairing it with suitable companion plants, you can enjoy the charm of this captivating daylily for years to come.
Introduced in 2002 by Carpenter-J , 'Kansas Kitten' has quickly gained popularity among gardeners for its captivating blooms and easy care. Its ability to thrive in a variety of conditions, from polluted city environments to dry soils, makes it a reliable choice for gardeners of all levels. The reblooming nature of this cultivar ensures an extended period of color in the garden, while its pest resistance and drought tolerance make it a low-maintenance option. Whether used in borders, containers, or mass plantings, 'Kansas Kitten' adds a touch of elegance and vibrancy to any landscape.
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!
