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"Brian is the best authority I know in using species and early daylilies for a hybridizing program. We all owe Brian a lot. "
–– NED ROBERTS

Be sure to see my article A Daylily Manifesto in the Winter 2007 AHS Daylily Journal

News: I have launched a new Hybridizing blog and forum PollenNation

PollenNation hybridizing forum hosted by Brian Mahieu

PollenNation hybridizing forum hosted by Brian Mahieu

About 'Astrid' and 'Hakuunzan' Mahieu '08

In 2006 sold my entire stock of Introductions to Bluegrass Gardens Daylily Farm. We moved the bulk of my hybridizing program to Kentucky as well. I am focusing on research and development of new cultivars and David and Laura are propagating and selling my plants. We have a combined daylily growing/hybridizing experience of over 30 years. David's growing experience and warmer climate are enabling him to bloom Mahieu seedlings and have robust divisions ready for the market several years sooner than previously dictated by climate and growing conditions. This fall we have registered many new plants in my Viking Series, launched a new Egyptian Series, as well as a Space Series. There are new additions to my Volcano, Hawaiian and Snake Series and blooms that range in size from 4 to 11 inches with scape heights up to 78 inches! Of the 40 registrations, 38 are nocturnal extended bloomers, most open for at least 24 hours. There is one tetraploid introduction from very rare bloodlines: EVENT HORIZON. Also represented here are a number of plants that will cross with both diploids and tetraploids via unreduced gametes: APOPHIS to name one. These plants are exciting bridges between the diploid Spider/UF genepool and the tetraploid genepool. Many of these new registrations are Unusual Forms, some are Spiders and there are some that are single, large flowers that fit no class – just what Rosemary Whitacre called "long-petaled lilies". The latter are from spider/unusual forms lines and will be useful breeding stock for these forms. I am very excited to finally have F2 and F3 seedlings out of H. citrina ready to release to gardeners. (see MARAMA, ORCHID CONVERGENCE, STEWART PEDEN SMITH, SVENSKA, THORHALL THE HUNTER and RÖGNVALDURSSON to name a few). Mahieu-Burris 2008 Intros online catalog and statistics 2008 Mahieu-Burris Intros slideshow: 40 exciting new plants!	Brian Mahieu, Laura and David Burris March 2006.
Tom and I spend time in Kentucky each season; this year we made over 3,000 crosses while we were there. This season I was really focusing on the nocturnals. Due to the horrific heat and drought the nocturnal pollination probably produced a higher percentage of pod set than daytime pollination. It was certainly more enjoyable to be out at night with our headlamps! I also have a patch of "broodmare" clumps here in Missouri and David and I swap pollen back and forth. David is making very exciting crosses, blending his lines with mine and the huge collection of other hybridizer's plants he grows. The next few bloom seasons will be very exciting with many vintages of Mahieu and Burris seedlings blooming at the same time. New Article: Breeding Tall Daylilies	Nocturnal hybridization, Kentucky 2007
New article: Breeding Black and Brown Daylilies 'APOPHIS' the most dynamic introduction from my black lines to date. 'Apophis' is radically fertile both ways, and will set pods on both diploids and tetraploids via unreduced gametes. Tom says: "Apophis will set a pod on a nun at 50 yards!"	Diurnal hybridization, Kentucky 2006
I believe I have one of the most diverse gene pools in any active hybridizing program. I have incorporated many rare and un-used species into my lines and continue to introduce more rare species blood. These species are the source of new and unexplored daylily genomes. Many wonderful traits are coming from the introduction of species blood: massive buds and branching, fragrance, extended bloom period, extra early, very late, bud building and reblooming characteristics, radial branching, hybrid vigor, clean foliage and rates of increase up to ten fold per year -- to name a few. Since I began hybridizing I have kept scrupulous records of my crosses. I created a searchable database for my studbooks and it is currently tracking over 7,900 crosses! I am working on granting contracts to one nursery in the U.S., E.U... and Australia to distribute my plants, so that I can concentrate on what I do best: research and development. In 2004-2006 I moved my breeding program to a new site. From over three acres of seedlings, I selected the best plants to continue my breeding program. I did not have time, space or money to move the bulk of the seedlings available to me so I donated them to civic beautification projects. To date I have registered 123 daylilies. It was in 1994-95 that I began pursuing breeding goals that would result in orchid-like daylilies. It has been my desire to create hardy "orchids" for more northerly climes and plants that will open well in cooler maritime climates like the Pacific Northwest, Britain/Europe as well as Canada. THORHALLA (Mahieu '03) is thriving in climates as diverse as Sweden, Oxford, England and Salt Lake City Utah! Developed in the climatically volatile Midwest, (USDA zone 5) these daylilies display unique form as well a gardenability unusual in many of today's introductions. Since 1995, I have been selecting for balanced plant habit first -- destroying plants with poor foliage or root systems before I see them bloom. With my focus on using plants from nocturnal bloodlines, and/or nocturnal species, fragrance has become pronounced in my lines as well as nocturnal/extended blooming habit. Species plants have also lent incredible vigor, buds and branching to my lines as well as extending my bloom season from April 25 until hard frost! Mahieu-Burris 2008 Intros online catalog and statistics 2008 Mahieu-Burris Intros slideshow: 40 exciting new plants!

Mahieu Spring 2004 Collection Spring 2005 Mahieu Introductions Speaking Engagements/ Calendar	Bluegrass Gardens is the exclusive source for new Mahieu Introductions. I no longer have ANY daylilies of any type for sale. Thank you for your interest!
Mahieu-Burris 2008 Intros online catalog and statistics	2008 Mahieu-Burris Intros slideshow: 40 exciting new plants!
More Hybridizing Thoughts: H. citrina & nocturnal hybridizing Updated: Hybridizing Tips Loch Ness Monster pedigree chart Cerulean Star pedigree chart Breeding Black and Brown Daylilies Color Theory useful to Hybridizers Breeding Tall Daylilies New Article: The Viking Series New feature: Guest Hybridizers External Links: Hybridizing Daylilies a good overview and links by Richland Creek Nursery The Daylilies of A.B. Stout best pictorial resource for Stout's daylilies Historic Daylily and Species American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) (USA; English)	International Daylily Links: A Swedish gardening site Allt om trädgård Australian Daylily Society (Australia; English) British Hosta and Hemerocalllis Society (BHHS) (Great Britain; English) Canadian Hemerocallis Society (Canada; English) Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde e.V. (GdS) (German Perennial Society; German) Gesellschaft Schweizer Staudenfreunde (GSS) (Swiss Perennial Society; German) Hemerocallis Europa e.V. (HE) (Europe; English & German) Hemerocallisvereniging (The Netherlands; Dutch) Société Française des Iris et plantes Bulbeuses (S.F.I.B.) (France; French & partly in English) Hemerocallis Species the definitive site An English Hybridiser's Blog Spot using H citrina and spider/Uf daylilies