Daylily 'Happy Returns'

Questions about daylily 'Happy Returns'

Does daylily 'Happy Returns' need sun or shade?

Daylily 'Happy Returns' grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day) and part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun).

It wants ordinary well-drained soil, of average fertility, and a good soak in dry spells.

What zones does daylily 'Happy Returns' grow in?

USDA zones 3 to 9. It is hardy to zone 3, which means it survives winter nights down to about −30 °F (−34 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does daylily 'Happy Returns' flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers mid June to mid September. As a summer flower it moves about half a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should daylily 'Happy Returns' be planted?

18 in (45 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is about its full width, so each plant keeps its own outline.

It grows 18 in (45 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many daylily 'Happy Returns' plants do I need?

At 18 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 5 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 7 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 17 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as runs of three or five along the front (or one even row, in a formal bed).

In the bed above, the planner used three in one group.

Is daylily 'Happy Returns' poisonous to cats?

Yes: severe toxicity to cats. Extremely poisonous to cats: every part, including the pollen, can cause kidney failure. Not considered poisonous to dogs or people.

It is not recorded as toxic to dogs.

Rated from the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like daylily 'Happy Returns'?

These come closest to doing what daylily 'Happy Returns' does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Threadleaf coreopsis 'Moonbeam': the same job in a bed, the same size, the same flowering time and the same colour; fine leaves, not medium, wants dry soil.
• Scarlet coral bells: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late May to late July, red, pink or white, not yellow.
• Speedwell 'Royal Candles': the same job in a bed; 4 in narrower, flowers late June to late August.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What flowers after daylily 'Happy Returns'?

Daylily 'Happy Returns' is over by mid September. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Garden chrysanthemum: from mid September to late October, 24 in tall.
• October daphne: from mid September to late October, 8 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Meadow saffron: from mid September to mid October, 6 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.

What does daylily 'Happy Returns' look like in winter?

Daylily 'Happy Returns' dies down to the ground and there is nothing to see until spring. The old stems can be cut in autumn, or left until spring as shelter for overwintering insects.