For the past two years I've grown Oriental Silk, and I find that when the plant first starts blooming, the flowers are clear and bright. However, when the last few flowers open, they are generally paler and the flowers tend to have purple spots along the edges of the petals (although not the sepals). It doesn't appear to be caused by weather since this has happened two years in a row and this year was very different weather-wise from last year. I actually enjoy the later blooms more because with their size and spots they remind me of true lilies.

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I've had Oriental Silk for many years now and it is a favorite. I have it planted in a very marginal spot so that is probably why it has been exceptionally slow to increase for me. It is an early bloomer for me (despite being registered mid-late) and is one of my earliest tetraploids. The flowers are large and this year have very saturated colors. Must be due to the abundant rainfall this year and last and a well-timed application of fertilizer.

I typically have no luck with evergreen daylilies surviving in my garden but Oriental Silk is very hardy. It doesn't seem bothered by late freezes at all. It is planted near a wall so it may be in a good microclimate. It is definitely in a well-drained spot. The scapes are tall and the flowers are held well above the foliage. My small clump gets nothing but morning sun so partial shade isn't an issue for this cultivar.

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