I've had Bridget in the gardens for a number of years (zone 3) and can attest to its cold-hardiness, as it comes back each year with a flourish. The blooms here are a bit smaller than newer intros (stats say 3-inch, but I think they are slightly larger here, closer to 4 inches).

But what I find endlessly delightful about this daylily is that, far more often than not, the bloom looks like black velvet on red ... This is not just a deeper red eye, this is full-on black velvet tones laid over the deep ruby tones below. It's so dark a velvet black on some blossoms that the orange pollen contrasts vividly against it, as though dotted with flecks of gold.

This daylily reminds me of smokey, dark rooms with someone playing blues music in the background somewhere... the colours stand up even to the hot, bright afternoon sun. Like vintage wine, it has held its own against time.

Reply to this comment