I've had daylilies just darn near change colors from one year to the next. One in particular went from a bright pretty orange to a ratty looking muddy orange last year. I hope that it comes back into the good side this year.
I have a purple seedling that seems to change with each bud opening. The blue eye gets bigger, smaller, kinda penciled sometimes. The purple will look blue and then it gets kinda lavender.
I have some that were really great the first year and so far, 3 years later it hasn't looked like the first bloom again.
So, I know that they can really change. Oh, I forgot about the bloom on one of my really reds was just nearly white on a rebloom scape. That was weird!
Yes, I believe that heat can make a big difference. The plants that bloom early for me are always the prettiest. I like your first picture the best. I think sometimes this is why people think they may have gotten the wrong plant. You have a good bit of difference in those blooms.
Blessings, Mona
