HYBRIDS OF HEMEROCALLIS. 415 
HYBRIDS OF HEMHEROCALLIS. 
By G. Yep, M.A., F.R.H.S. 
I HAVE been engaged for many years in hybridising the Hemerocallis, so 
well known to the gardener through its most popular species H. flava. 
H. flava was a prominent plant in the garden of the house I now 
occupy when I came to it thirty years ago. It pleased me well. Then 
Isaw H. Middendorffii in the York nurseries of Messrs. Backhouse & Son. 
The sight of it suggested to me that a cross between it and flava would 
be likely to produce a good flower. I made the cross and was delighted 
with the flower which rewarded me. This seedling was named ‘ Apricot’ 
to indicate the colour. It is, roughly speaking, about half-way between 
the parents—varies considerably in height—and has a pleasant fragrance. 
It received an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society at 
the Temple Show, 1893. 
In 1895 I received an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural 
Society for another hybrid, named ‘ Frances,’ very dwarf, but in other 
respects like ‘ Apricot.’ It has unfortunately died out. I think it must 
have been from minor (syn. graminea) crossed with Middendorffii. The 
mother plant dies out in my garden, so that, assuming the parentage to 
be correct, it is not surprising that the hybrid perished. 
From H. flava crossed with H. Dumortieri (syn. H. Sieboldi and 
H. rutilans) I haye obtained a number of plants which vary very 
considerably in colour and height. 
The best is perhaps ‘ Flame,’ orange with maroon on the back of the 
flower, and haying deep maroon buds. It is not so tall as flava. A large 
clump makes a brave show. 
‘Estmere’ is similar but is more like flava in shape, it is sometimes 
as tall as flava, and has a more open flower with less maroon on the back. 
‘ William Dean,’ as tall as flava, is of deeper orange with but little 
maroon on the back of the flower. 
‘Beauty’ has a shapely, round, well-opened flower with dark maroon 
back. It was exceptionally good this summer. 
There are other forms too. The flowers vary in height as well as in 
colour, some being as tall as flava, others, especially ‘ Flame,’ being con- 
siderably shorter. These hybrids have in a more or less degree the 
unpleasant smell of H. Sieboldiui. 
The forms ‘ Gold Dust,’ ‘ Sovereign,’ and ‘Orangeman,’ now in com- 
merce, are very similar to—if not identical with—my flava x Sieboldw 
hybrids, but I believe my plants were first in the field. 
I have a very deep-coloured, low-growing form named ‘ Tangerine,’ 
the origin of which is lost. It is very distinct and comes late enough to 
escape the frosts which often severely injure Middendorffit. Its height 
varies from just over to just under a foot. 
