There have been more than a few "boo boos" over the years. Often I've berated myself for my own stupidity when buying cultivars that I should know will not thrive in this climate. A more difficult issue to deal with is plants that turn out OK vigor wise, but then never resemble the intriguing pictures that help persuade us that we "must have it" .....it is always better to see the plant in person, a tough lesson. Sometimes that isn't possible so one learns through trial and error that some hybridizer's images represent their cultivars more accurately than others. I have grown to deeply appreciate those hybridizers who take the time to show several images of a cultivar on their website, and also to take other images with a grain of salt. Nowadays I mostly purchase plants directly from hybridizers whose plants have proven themselves in the past and whose images have proven over time to be accurate in my garden as well as theirs.

The most recent "regret" has been 'Caesar Augustus,' which although registered in 2007, was not actually introduced until around 2010 or 2011. ( can't remember) I jumped on the bandwagon when the hybridizer listed it on his website because it appeared to have a distinctly unique pattern. The issue is NOT with the plant's vigor here, it actually has increased fairly well. The issue is that the plant has never looked much like the quite distinctive bloom that this plant apparently showed in FL. I should have known that and have kicked myself several times, in fact every time I've seen the bloom. I sold 6 fans from the clump this summer, was going to get rid of it but at the last minute, had a bit of buyers remorse, and kept 3 fans and moved it to an absolutely perfect spot to see if performance improves. Well, one can hope. It's got two more years.

I've been looking at the ATP Database for most of the plants listed in this thread. 'Caesar Augustus,' only appears to have one bloom shown that was from a commercial seller. As far as I can tell the rest are photos from someone's personal garden. They have a wide, wide range of locations. The one that appears most different to my eyes is the one from Maryott's Gardens in California. Others are from Texas, Tennessee, Vermont (3 submissions and it appears they are from 3 different seasons), yours from Virginia and even one submission from Poland. As ATP Database photos of daylilies go, there are many more entries showing a much wider variation than is depicted for this cultivar. So I'm curious what the hybridizers photo would show. Which, of the ATP photos, is closest to the distinctive bloom you were hoping to see? I'm guessing that it's usually going to look like the database photos. ATP folks taking advantage of the database aren't likely to be surprised after doing a bit of homework.

None of the pictures in this database look very close.
The image on the AHS database submitted by the hybridizer shows how the " arrowhead" midrib can extend all the way to the end of the petal, presumably in the home garden. That's what I hoped for, but blooms don't do that here. When you purchase new introductions, there aren't many images to go by unless someone photographed the cultivar in the hybridizers garden as a seedling. ( I've done that several times)

Gotcha! I see what you mean now. Looks like it might not do that in most places.

I take your point about new introductions and the lack of photos also. Where I'm located not many people grow daylilies. I don't have the opportunity to see them growing, so the virtual images are what I have to use. I have to say that I have been amazed at how closely the blooms I see when they bloom have matched the image I saved to the wish folder to begin with. I think my personal taste may be toward more simple patterns though that thought just now occurred to me. After my purchases bloom then I have my photos next to the one I selected off the web. I'd show some except those I 'borrowed' aren't mine to show. I was going to delete them after I had my own photos. I thought there would be a lot of difference, but I'm still waiting. I'm sure it will happen sometime.

Thanks for your answer.

I forgot about Caesar Augustus. My first plant rotted after dividing/ removing another plant from the pot. A friend felt sorry for me and gave me another fan. But it never bloomed like the hybridizers photo except once kinda. It always had a hard time opening fully as well. Here is the hybridizers photo and the best it ever bloomed for me. Mind you this is the best flower.

Dot

Caesar Augustus (hybridizers photo)


my photo

JWWC said:Claudia I'm surprised HAI didn't do well for you. I have it and it's reliably increased and bloomed each year.

I got mine directly from Jamie. It increased, though slowly, and it did boom but just was not a standout. The fans are extremely small. I was very surprised it did not do well here too. I have not had luck with Jamie's plants except Blizzard Blast. It has done pretty well for me.

I've bought 3-4 first year intro's that didn't make it. I won't list them here as something I've done may have had an effect on them. What I can't forgive is when hybridizers show glamour shots of their blooms that look nothing like what you will see in anyone's garden. There are some hybridizers from whom I won't buy because I feel like they're providing false advertising. Y'all are right about the database here. It's invaluable.

I was once intrigued by a poly bloom shown as the main image on the auction. I'd not heard of that intro having poly blooms and wrote to inquire about it. She wrote back saying it was the only poly bloom she'd ever seen on the plant but it looked so good she had to use that image. Grrrrr.

On the flip side, I agree with the comment about hybridizers who post several pics and even videos of their plants.

Leslie, I don't blame you at all for being annoyed at the false representation. The auction page images should only show typical blooms, not the atypical poly or double or what have you.

@needrain.
I am sure a lot of us would love to see comparative photos. I assume you are talking about photos that are not in the database here on ATP(you can freely post any of the database photos here on ATP in your posts here on this site). Can't you freely post links to those photos?

Needrain (Donald) answered Larry's question above and was split off from this thread to start a new thread which can be found here....

The thread "Using Images to Shop for Daylilies" in Daylilies forum

When I split the thread I goofed and didn't move the question with the answer

...going to get a second cup of coffee now

Just kicking the virtual can...

Maybe this thread would get more action if we twisted it a bit.

Are there any daylilies that you regretted not buying when you had the chance?

In other words, your most regrettable daylily non-purchase.

Ken

Oh my!

Should make that a new topic.. nobody will pay attention to it now.

I do regret not buying any patterned or sculpted daylilies. I do have Get Jiggy and I did get Dragonfly Dawn this spring. I just hope it makes it through our winter.

Isn't that why we have growing wish lists?

Yes it is Liz but I am supposed to be downsizing. I can't take good care of the ones I have unfortunately due to back problems.

Yes, Cindy me too Can't seem to get there.

I know what you mean.

I downsize about every other year and then just fill up again. Funny how that happens!

Yes it is Leslie.