The biggest break that I have experienced over my years of hybridizing is the change in SIZE. The AHS has the following classifications:
Miniature: bloom diameter less than 3"
Small: over 3" but less than 4 1/2"
Large: greater than 4 1/2
And more recently was added:
Extra Large: Over 7"
Back in 2000, everyone was wanting a piece of HAL RICE which was registered as having a 13" bloom which was unheard of back then! But looking at a photo of HAL RICE, it is now more "ordinary" as the evolution of daylilies has led to larger and larger daylilies. It's difficult for me to think of a 5" flower as being "large" anymore! And an "extra large" description brings images of over 10 to 12" to my mind...as 7" flowers are looking pretty puny compared with what is being registered now. Perhaps it is time for the AHS to add another category like JUMBO for the many flowers that are measuring over 10".
In addition to increased size, a more recent breakthrough is the evolution of a scape that is capable of displaying behemoth blooms and also the creation of recurrent scapes that can display huge blooms without touching one another or appearing crowded. Garden presence has come a LONG way in building better plant habits and is still evolving. I love instant rebloom scapes that are a different height than the original because it makes for a better display. As flowers became larger, plant habit has to follow. Developing a scape that will display 4 or 5 ten-inch blooms open at the same time on one scape without having the scape fall over or crack off when the wind blows is not an easy task!
