One thing that I forgot to mention (I just re-read the OP)...... what is "best" at my place doesn't necessarily reflect best bud count or rebloom, but rather that the plant performs despite our climate, which for me mostly means that the blooms OPEN WELL and retain their substance, and that the dark colors don't melt, slick, or spot (or at least, not as badly as most in that color range). (I also want rust resistance, but I do keep a few susceptible plants.) Of course, there has to be an adequate amount of bloom for the plant to earn its garden space, but the fact is that we simply do not get the high bud count here that gardens in the South do. I also tend not to get rebloom on many daylilies (even if they were registered as such; I think our shade has at least something to do with that), so my "best" daylilies may not rebloom (here).
That said, I feel that some plants are worth the garden space, even if their bud count is not ideal, and overall the clump is only in bloom for 3 weeks or so. 'Mary's Gold' was in bloom for all of about 2 weeks last year (though in its defense, the deer managed to get in and get some of it). However, it is, for me, indispensable for its large, eye-zorching gold flowers which always open well. If I had the space, I would be working with that intensively, to keep the flower size and color and scape height, while improving the form and bringing in rust resistance, better branching, and rebloom. (Heck, I may try to do so anyway.)
(Everything else on my list above, excepting BFR and IT, both of which were deer raided in previous years, have at least a month of good bloom.)
