Debra, I have some Evergreens that I gave to friends on the northern border of PA. I don't recall which ones now, but they did amazingly well. I recall being astonished when I saw them on a visit. I gave them multiple seasons [e, mid, late] and they all bloomed nearly the same time and very well. It was in the mountainous area, so it is colder than you will be with more snow.

Brad

Shores of Time is inconsistent here, but that I think is just its nature. Not a favorite. I can plant here as late as early October. Especially in recent years. Earlier planting is better though.

Green Mystique, okay. Arctic Lace, deleted because it was anemic. Moonlight Sail, never vigorous. Carefree Sunset, not good. Chartered Course, dwindled to nothing. Indianapolis is colder than here, but may have more snow cover. Unless an evergreen seedling is something you are very fond of, I wouldn't take it. It's so much work to move all those daylilies.

Debra, those are good questions because I think you will find growing in central Indiana somewhat different than Tennessee. What we don't have in central Indiana is snow cover, but we do have lots of freeze/thaw cycles. We think that that combination is particularly hard on daylilies. Dave's friends in northern PA might have snow cover (possibly lake effect snow). Also, if you are in the city as opposed to the country where we are, you might find your climate a bit warmer in the winter. Some of our city friends have better luck with the evergreens, especially if they mulch heavily.

You grow many evergreen that we wouldn't try here. Many of them will do ok here for a while and then dwindle away. That has happened with Triple Cherries, Let's Dance Tonight, Freewheelin' and Red Eyed Queen.

To try to answer your questions.

1. We don't like to plant much later than the middle of September. Our average first frost date is somewhere around Oct. 20. We have planted later than that (as late as late October--Terrorsaur--a Gossard), but the plants are often not very strong in the spring. I don't know that we have lost any though.

2. We really don't grow many evergreens and as the time goes on, we buy fewer and fewer that are evergreen and/or southern-bred.

3. Shores of Time did fine here. In fact, we bought it from a garden in Indianapolis you will need to check out when you move. It is Soules Garden in southeast Indy. Chris Wilhoite is the owner and he grows an amazing array of plants, not just daylilies. In fact, Chris likes many Pierce daylilies and he says they do well for him. He does apply mulch heavily. I haven't tried any of the others you listed. The older Stamiles and Salters do pretty well for us. And sometimes it is just hit and miss. We lost Sea of Cinders twice in the garden, but have successfully grown another one outside (in our protected bed) for several years. The same is true with Stellar Stitchery.

4. It would be very hard for me to leave behind my best seedlings that are evergreen. I would choose my best and plant them in a protected place. We have a strip along the south side of the garage where we plant our tender ones. We don't generally get much mulch on our beds--just too many and too costly--but we selectively go around in the fall with a bucket of mulch for those we believe are tender.

My general advice is to take what you like best. Bob and I have decided that the most important thing about daylilies is which one we like best, not which one has the highest bud count or increases faster, and so on. If it's not pretty to me, there is no reason to grow it. If your favorites come to Indy, they may do fine. If not, at least you tried.

Nancy

Nan - I forgot to add that Soules Gardens was where I bought some of my very first daylilies back in the 1990s when Marjorie Soules and her husband owned the place. I used to go there every summer when I visited my parents. I've never met Chris Wilhoite, but I've done business with his wife. My Aunt Mary lived just two blocks away from Soules Gardens. And I really should meet Chris since Wilhoite is one of my ancestor's name. We may be distant cousins.

Debra

Hi Debra, here are some answers for you. The only Stamiles I have are El Desperado, Night Embers and Ruby Spider, Free Wheelin….they all do well here.

I don’t have a huge amount of evergreens, have lost a few. Here are the ones I have that do well…. Cameroons, Cameroon Night, Claudines Charm, Chorus Line, Ciel D’or, Coyote Moon, Destined to See, Mage Quest, Peacock Maiden, Undercurrent.

Of these Undercurrent, Coyote Moon have both rebloomed for me. Destined to See was off last season after doing well for over a decade. The Cameroons have impressed me in the few seasons here.

Dearest Valentine faded away here, was in a good spot.

The latest i have planted here is mid September, most have had a good following season.

Debra, I have a little over 200 daylilies and other perenials to manage on my suburban lot, this plenty for me.

Sherry

Freewheelin does fine here. Most of the Petits had low bud count and rather short scapes. I generally avoid them. But Gavin Petit does well here. Its plant habit--a bit octopus-like--is unusual, but blooms are generally above the foliage. The old Half Moon Key is a Petit. I avoid Pierces too. Hard to understand the infatuation in the Northeast with evergreens, but I suppose if they are submerged in snow all winter, they may do well.

Sherry - I was hoping I could get away with planting semi-evergreens and dormants until at least the middle of September. The evergreens I do take I will keep in pots and house in a garage or basement during winter, if I can find a house with those features. It's good to know some evergreens do well you. You said in the past Coco's Curiosity, an evergreen, hangs in there for you. How does it multiply?

Debra

Mantis - Thanks for your response on the Petits. I have several I really want to take. It's good to know Gavin Petit thrives for you. Soul Catcher and Faberge Easter are the ones that obviously did not respond well to January's below zero temperatures, so they will need to be rehomed in the South.

Debra

Coco’s Curiosity is not prolific here, as only added one fan. It did bloom last season when some others here didnt. The foliage looks really good now, will keep you updated on its progress this season

Sherry

Sherry - Thanks for the info on Coco. In the past it's multiplied very well here, especially when divided regularly. Over the past two drought years, I don't think it's added too many fans.

Debra

It's funny how someone in the same zone as you might have totally different outcomes. Mantis does well with Gavin Petit, but Gavin grew here for several years and dwindled away. We dug up what remained (looked like a seedling) and threw it away this spring. Freewheelin' (which I love) is in the process of doing the same thing. It's just really trial and error on which ones will do well in your microclimate.

Nancy

It is funny about plants, as Nancy says. I have Faberge Easter and it is looking really good this year. I would think I might be a few degrees colder, especially since you are in Nashville and so much concrete etc. I have been saying for several years I am going to pare down so I can actually control weeds. Plus, I can see a time when I will have to move to a smaller place. Change is hard for me though. I know it will all work out for you though!

Nancy - I'm amazed your Faberge Easter is looking lush. Mine hasn't done well for the past two years, and the problem might be grubs here rather than winter temps.

Nan - How interesting that Gavin Petit didn't do well for you. Thanks for weighing in on it!

Debra

Nan - I know you have grown Kiss of Paradise. How does it grow for you? Mine has certainly never been the registered height here, and it only has a modest number of buds, but I'm fond of it because it blooms so early here.

Debra

My northern friends, do any of you grow Palace Garden Beauty or any other Carpenters that do well for you?

Debra

Palace Garden Beauty does well here. There are a number of Carpenters here. But I think that PGB is the only evergreen.

Thank you, Mantis. Palace Garden Beauty has always been one of my favorites. Whether I take it depends on the size of my future yard.

Debra

Debra, I have a few Carpenters. Two are evergreens, Red Eyed Fantasy and Wanda Lou Lovely. Red eyed Fantasy is leaving the garden this week, has never done well here. I got it from Bonnie at Oak Hill, I guess it does well for her, not here. Wanda has done well…it is planted close to my house foundation.

Lavender Stardust, Forever Redeemed and Kansas kitten have done well. No more Carpenters.

Sherry

Sherry - Thanks for your response on Carpenters. I have Forever Redeemed and Lavender Stardust. I doubt that they will make the cut to go north. I was thinking about taking Summer Snowball. I sent you that one, but I don't think it ever bloomed for you. What happened to it? I was surprised it didn't do well for you since it's a dormant.

Debra

Summer Snowball did not survive here. It disappeared after two seasons.

Sherry

Debra, Palace Garden Beauty did well for us until we tried to line it out and then it all died. We do grow some Carpenters and up until this year, I would say they do well. Some of the Carpenters are in the 'crush zone' and the tags are all so mangled and misplaced we might have to wait until they bloom to sort them out. The ones in the 'crush zone' are Cherry Top Hat and Royal Extravaganza, both of which did fine until being crushed. I have been very happy with Fantasy and Dreams. It has increased well and seems to be at registered height.

Up until this year Kiss of Paradise has done fine. It just doesn't look good this year, but I would say that about many of our daylilies. I think they may have endured too many frosts this season which has affected their growth--lots of light green, wavy, slumped over leaves. It is putting up scapes, but it won't be first flower open this season.

Nancy

A lot of foliage here too looks bad--I think because of the extreme heat we've had. But with yesterday's overcast, cooler skies, the foliage is looking better. It is huge again this year, like fields of corn. I have had to trim the foliage on most clumps. I am already out killing earwigs--swarms of them under mulch bags, pots, etc. I have spent a good 7 hours putting up a deer fence.

Thanks for the great info! It really helps me decide what will make the move.

Debra