It took awhile before I finally got it through my impatient skull that some daylilies just need a little more time to get established than others. For two full summers my ‘Smoky Mountain Autumn’ blossoms looked like this or much worse:
This shorter cultivar grows 18 inches tall with 5-inch fragrant flowers. I would describe the color as a rich, coral rose (the official registered description is “rose blend with rose lavender halo and olive green throat”).
I’d seen ‘Smoky Mountain Autumn’ blooming on just about every property of every daylily tour I’d ever been on and the flowers were always gorgeous, but the one I planted in my garden regarded me with disdain. It was exasperating. For two full summers I was rewarded with blooms full of nicks and scars or flowers that didn’t open fully.
I’m still not sure why I didn’t just yank out this wonky daylily and plant something more reliable, but I’m glad I didn’t. Last summer it finally rallied.
Each bloom got better and better, and I remembered why I planted it in the first place.
I don’t know if this daylily is generally fussy or if it just didn’t like my garden at first, but I’m glad I gave ‘Smoky Mountain Autumn’ enough time to find its groove.