( BETSCHER’S HEMEROCALLIS 
The Perennial Supreme 
A Bit of History 
Many years ago in our garden were Hemerocallis, Flava, Fulva, Kwanzo. As a boy they 
appealed to me—the older I became the more so. When I began the florist business. Aur¬ 
eole, Dumorteri, etc. were new and added to my list. We bred these in a small way for 
a number of generations, selecting the few best, destroying the rest. As they became 
better, breeding work was greatly increased. The while our seedlings showed better plants 
and flowers, decidedly more tine ones per thousand, newer colors and tints, forms, times of 
blooming, etc. As our seedlings evolved increasingly betterments, work with them was 
increased and broadened. 
1929, a greater work at breeding than previously was done, resulting in a very fine crop of 
seeds. The severe dryness ruined many of these seedlings, the remainder came into full 
bloom in 1934, again a very dry year. 
However, when these came into bloom, many were very much larger and in much better 
colorings. Many different forms—dwarfs, taller, earlier to much later. A season from 
May 15th until frozen. 
Then many were full of new bud stems, indicating that where seasons are much longer as 
Virginia, Tennessee and south, many should bloom over a very much longer season. 
Imagine such a long season of beauty, a change day on day all summer and fall, 160-175 
days, in the south much longer. Many show blooms several times, some are showing up 
as “everbloomers.” 
For several seasons it was very hot and dry when these were blooming, so a critical ap¬ 
praisal could not be made. 1934, a very dry year the soil was very hard so it was imposs¬ 
ible to cultivate them. The leaves became yellowed; however, when they began to bloom it 
was agreeably surprising to see the blooms quite full size. These should do well every¬ 
where. Many of these out-class the finest lilies. 
The greatest reward was the many whites that gave fine large blooms rivaling Regal 
liliums. A bigeneric cross of Hemerocallisx Funkia, atypical Funkia with a very small 
rich golden hem bloom. Foliage pure white and green varegations. 
1934 we crossed the entire season, based on the advancing betterments inherent in sound 
breeding, the very fine ones we had to breed, and the great volume of work done. Hence, 
far superior ones should present themselves 1937-38-39. From pure whites to far better 
scarlets-reds fulvous. 
We may reasonably look forward to a time when we shall see blue, lavender, pink rose and 
purples. 
Hemerocallis may be forced, same care as with Narcissus. Thus, latest ones may be forced 
to come open in winter or in early May and June. When an earlier clump is done blooming 
it may be lifted carefully, one beginning to open put into its place, thus continued all sea¬ 
son. One may have flowers in one spot in the garden all season. They are hardy and a 
suecess from Manitoba into Mexico, perhaps Patagonia. 
