A.B. Stout developed a well known series of tall daylilies using H altissima.  He predicted a “giant class” of daylilies over 5 feet tall (60”) to be possible in the future. (Stout pg. 82)  This article explores my breeding program and it’s progress in developing plants in this giant class, that fit into my aesthetic of the viking series.  My article on breeding tall daylilies is a good general overview of this topic.

Though many have used H. altissima and it’s progeny to breed for height I have had much more success and experience using H citrina.  In my experience H altissima-based plants have more willowy scapes and my H. citrina based seedlings are giving heights to 78” or more with much thicker scapes.  It seems to me that H citrina will give larger bloom sizes too.  H citrina based cultivars (with scape heights)  found in the parentage of many early daylilies include:

Ophir 50”,  Golden West 48”, Sir Michael Foster 48”, Hyperion 40” and Yellowstone 36”.

I looked for these foundation stock plants when I was researching plants to start my program with.  Many plants in my tall lines trace ancestry back to H citrina via these classic foundation plants.

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Design Considerations for the Viking Series of daylilies

I began hybridizing in 1992.  It was in 1994-95 that I began pursuing specific breeding goals that would result in orchid-like daylilies on statuesque plants that would perform well in northern climates. Through correspondence with friends in Europe, the U.K. and Scandinavia I learned that many of the daylilies developed in the semi-tropical climate of the southern U.S. did not perform well in the European climates.  So, I set about to create a series of I hardy "orchids" for more northerly climes. I wanted large, tropical-looking flowers on impressive plants that would thrive in temperate climates without having to be lifted in the fall.  I also wanted artistic, open and sculptural forms that would blend well with other plant materials and look exotic, but not artificial, in a garden setting.

Developed in the climatically volatile Midwest, (USDA zone 5-b, -10 to -15 F, -23.4 to -26.1 C) 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 and/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 our bloom season from April 25 until hard frost (often into mid-October). American Horticultural Society heat zone map.    E.U. heatzone map.

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SCANDINAVIA Viking Series, Mahieu 20003, introduced 2005 Mahieu Diploid 2000-169-H [(MISS JESSIE x LOCH NESS MONSTER) X (RADIANT MOONBEAM x SATIN BIRD)] 54 ML 8.5 DOR FR NOC EXT 5 way branching 32 buds SCANDINAVIA typifies the type of plant and floral presentation that I am after in the Viking Series. Primarily I want a plant of human scale with large flowers.  The palette of color thus far in this series ranges from near whites to purples. SCANDINAVIA is a statuesque plant with gorgeous blue green foliage and stunning cattleya orchid-like blooms held aloft on stout, well branched scapes.  The huge, fragrant flowers are a glittering, diamond-dusted white with ruffled petals, recurved sepals and a lemon-chartreuse throat.  Scandinavia is a beautiful addition to the late season garden and a vigorous grower and increaser.  The pod parent was either ORCHID VISITATION or  ORCHID HUNTER (full siblings),  I did not specify which sibling in the [MISS JESSIE X LOCH NESS MONSTER] cross I used.  Spatulate petals,  LxW ratio 2.9:1, variable crispate/cascade Unusual Form.   This plant is a good example of my best near whites coming out of lines of purple breeding. photo copyright Bluegrass Gardens

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Viking Series progenitor 'Olaf The Conqueror', 70 inches tall 10 inch bloom. Fragrant, creamy lemon to greenish white blend, diamond dusted cascading Unusual Form.  Maiden bloom bottom right, blooming in a pot at Bluegrass Gardens summer 2006 at left.  'Olaf The Conqueror' Mahieu-Burris '08 is my only evergreen introduction.  I cull ruthlessly in early spring for winter damaged foliage and thus few evergreens remain.  'Olaf' survived years of this treatment, and I was surprized to learn he is fully evergreen.  This would be a good candidate for those in the South who want to grow my plants.  OLAF is a great parent, and was probably the pollen parent of NOORLAND (below)  though the tag was lost. NOORLAND 54 M 7, 4X22 NOC EXT FR DOR CASCADE UF a striking, tall, greenish lemon-white blend with kiwi-chartreuse throat. This was one of my favorite plants in 2007, I think the pollen parent could be OLAF THE CONQUEROR, but the tag was lost.   This is a tall, in-your-face orchid like plant with riveting garden presence, makes a magnificent clump.   [(TWIGGY x KATYS BLUE) X SEEDLING] The photo of OLAF THE CONQUEROR at the left shows Olaf in maiden bloom in my hillside garden.  Hildigunn is also in maiden bloom, and she is the tallest dark lavender daylily directly above the Olaf bloom.

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References:

Daylilies, A. B. Stout 1986. Originally printed by Macmillan in 1934.
ISBN:  0-89831-028-8

This is the classic treatment of the daylily. Included is a history of the evolution of daylilies, containing descriptions and colored pictures of species, varieties, and many of the earliest cultivars. Also included is some cultural information.  If you want a working knowledge of the foundation species behind modern cultivars this is a "must read".  I cherish my copy.

A Passion for Daylilies - The Flowers and The People, Sydney Eddison, 1992.
ISBN: 0805026118

 Though out of print, try to find a used copy at one of these great Book Sellers:

Bluegrass Gardens will introduce the latest Viking Series plants in the Spring 2008 online catalog here.

More Hybridizing Thoughts:

Hybridizing Tips and Essays

Nocturnal hybridization: H citrina