When it comes to plants, I’m usually mesmerized by color first. All the other attributes like size, texture, shape and performance are left holding participation ribbons.
If I’m not particularly impressed with a plant’s flower color I have to stop myself from making any impulsive decisions. I’m glad I didn’t dig up daylily ‘Chance Encounter’ after its first year in my garden because I’ve really grown to love it.
‘Chance Encounter’ has rose-colored, frilly flowers with a wide, yellow-green throat. The flowers are pretty, but they just didn’t dazzle me at first.
Each year since the plant was tucked into my garden, it has sent up more and more scapes just exploding with blooms. In fact last summer it was one of the few daylilies that seemed to shrug off the drought.
And thankfully, when the sun shines on the flowers from a certain angle, they take on a deeper pink color, which satisfies my goofy desire to be wowed by everything I grow.
‘Chance Encounter’ has 6-inch, fragrant flowers that appear on 25-inch-tall stems. The flowers look especially stunning planted next to yellow or purple perennials and annuals.