shive1 said:Yvonne - I don't grow either. But I have online friends who grow them and love them. Where are you located? Purples grown in northern states with lower night temps tend to look more blue purple. Those very same purples grown in my TN climate look reddish purple. Also, photos of purples can be deceiving since most cameras add blue tones to photos. A bud count of 12 would put me off too. I won't buy anything that doesn't have at least a registered bud count of 15. Those bud counts are an average, so that means some scapes of Michael Bennett may have a few more than 12 an others less than 12.
Hembrain said:I'm finding this thread well after it was a vibrant discussion, but that's how it goes. I agree with what has been said. What did you decide?
Better late than never? That's congruent with my input: buy now, buy later. Get them all. Get rid of something else or dig a new spot if you don't have space. The purplish blues are so refreshing and gorgeous, so if you are drawn to both you could add them as they become available, and then some. Dayliles have that "NOW!" energy and the quest for what we want feels like it's urgent. Hems can be such divas. Relax. There's time.
I love Michael Bennett even though it blooms in the foliage. It's lovely in the front of the border. A good grower with big blooms. It's usually the bluest thing in our foothills 7a garden and we have many purplish-blues. Starts midseason but goes for a while. I wish it rebloomed but will always grow it.
And I second Laura's recommendation of Claudine's Charm. Gorgeous and tall but not too tall. Stunning on a cool morning. Reblooms reliably for us and grows well. Anchors all those warm shades with her blue-purple, so a very good team player. One of my absolute faves.
We have some new Jamie Dockey that hasn't bloomed yet. Looking forward to seeing it next year.
Michael Bennett:
Claudine's Charm: