That's a common problem here too. It's too bad since it is so lovely.

Nancy

I got rid of mine years ago for just that reason.

Thanks Nancy and Shine….it may be on its way out

Sherry

NWD may not be getting enough sun where you have it. Mine only leans after strong storm winds knock down the scapes, and then I just stake the leaning scapes with green metal plant supports that I bought from Gardener's Supply. It did not lean this year, so no plant supports were necessary. I like the blooms too much to eliminate it. And you know I'm trying to move out about 100 plants, but NWD won't be one of them. I am considering eliminating several other late bloomers.

Edited to say: Sherry, mine has never leaned all the way to the ground like yours have. That has to be frustrating!

Debra

Sherry,

It is funny that you bring this topic up, as it was a heated debate as the Free State Daylily Sale and auction this past Saturday. One of the members was a garden judge and decided to not renew his garden judge status over this very plant winning the Stout. He said that it leans in every garden he has ever seen it in. He said that the dips which are tall with big flowers just lean. Another member took acception to this and stated that hers does not lean. I grow it and mine leans because it is reaching for the sun. I looked at my other dip spiders, which grow in full sun and they do not lean. It is an intesting topic and I am beginning to look at my dip spiders very carefully.

David

So, it appears NWD needs full sun to hopefully perform at its best. Debra, it is interesting to hear yours will lean with strong winds. We have strong winds in this area almost every day. It will probably leave. Looks like I am looking for another late bloomer with better habits.

Edit.

I have several spider dips here, most are not growing in full sun, none of them lean. NWD is the only one with this habit here.

Sherry

Sherry - When I say "strong" winds, I mean winds in excess of 30 mph. We have 10-15 mile an hour winds all the time, and they don't cause NWD to lean.

Debra

30 mph winds are fairly common here. What bothers me about this cultivar is the skinny scapes it has, no body to them. I have another cultivar with skinny scapes and I am not happy with the way it grows here, scapes are spread out and not straight. I cant see it ever having a ”clump” performance here here, it might be leaving. The poor performers have left the garden…for me this qualifies.

Sherry

Mine leans all the time. I have crossed it with a couple of different plants hoping to get a just as beautiful but not leaning plant. Mine is in a shadier spot and kinda sheltered from the wind. I usually tie up the scapes to make it stand up. After reading all this, it is getting moved to full sun. I needed more work. LOL.

I agree the the guy who resigned because it got the Stout award. Actually there are a number of Stouts that did not deserve the award; can't recall which right off hand, but I've had a couple others that were not impressive. That award and all the others mean nothing to me and I pay not attention to the awards. I go for what works and what I like. Then I've always been that way with awards for anything. Don't watch any or care about any.

Brad - My North Wind Dancer gets at least 8 hours of sun a day.

Debra

I've heard for a longt time that it North Wind Dancer is a leaner.

Julia

Sherry, leaning is why North Wind Dancer left my garden.

kay

Northwind Dancer left yesterday. Deciding on a late with better habits.

Sherry

Sherry - I could tell you were headed that way. I counted the bud scars on mine today, and most of the scapes had 18-19 buds. That makes it one of my best budded cultivars this year since this was an off year for most daylilies that normally have buds in the 20s and 30s. NWD hasn't done that well in years. It usually gets 13-16 though. Mine did lean more when it used to get less sun. Only after the neighbor took down a tree did I get straighter scapes.

Debra

Its good to hear it does well for somebody! It appears you are in the minority. It is such a pretty bloom but doesnt cut it here. Just a big disappointment for me. I still wonder why it got a Stout award.

Sherry