I am thinking of ordering two Davisson Daylilies, Carolina Spring Fling, and Mama Drama. They are both a color I want to work with, and have tall scapes with large blooms, traits I want. Davisson lists both as having immediate rebloom, which is the #1 trait I am wanting to hybridize for. Does anyone grow any of her cultivators registered with the instant rebloom, and if you do, does the plant actually have instant rebloom? My goal is a Joan Derifield looking bloom, with a whiter edge, 8-10 inch bloom on 40-48 inch well branched, thick scape, with consistent instant Northern rebloom. The Davisson cultivators would be a huge help in this, I think, if they do have the instant rebloom, and they would also be the most expensive Daylilies that I have purchased, so would love some feed back before purchasing. I would appreciate any info.

Thanks,
Gale

I grow both CAROLINA SPRING FLING and MAMA DRAMA, and both are gorgeous plants and blooms. Neither one was completely established for me last summer but MAMA DRAMA did send up instant rebloom scapes.

In my experience, Judy does not exaggerate performance or other registration statistics. Her intros perform as well as or better than registered.

That said, instant rebloom is not guaranteed and is dependent on good care and good growing conditions. You need to wait till plants are well established before judging what they can do. And don't expect instant rebloom if growing in partial shade, drought, no fertilization conditions or in pots. Just my two cents.

Corey, great info, just what I was looking for, thanks.

Gale,

I get so little instant rebloom here, I don't take much notice of it. If Davi says they do, then they do for her. I second Corey's observations, and might also add the need for an established clump for reblooming.

I do know that if you are looking for strong color, large blooms and tall scapes....then Davi's plants are the way to go.

I agree with both Corey and Steve ........ if Judy says they have instant rebloom, they do for her and will have the genetics for that trait.

Not the color you are interested in, but this beauty has instant rebloom even in my cold zone 5b (sometimes a 5a ... even a half hour south of me is usually 2 weeks ahead)

"A Lot Like Love" (Davisson 2013) Pink variable crispate with gentle ruffling, lighter pink midribs, and a wide cream yellow throat that that is Diamond dusted. Blooms have waxy, rainproof substance and fine white edges. Scapes are 34" tall with wide spaced 3 way branching, 20 buds, plus an additional 12 buds on rebloom scapes that come on immediately. Rebloom flowers are larger at 10" with twisting tepals and sepals that often quill (See photo). Extended blooms. A splashy season extender because it starts mid-late season and is one of the last cultivars still blooming in late September. Easily fertile both ways.

Maybe try it with something closer to the color you want .......... this beauty blooms for a very long time for me. (Mama Drama's color is fantastic ! Would have to make nice babies with A Lot Like Love ... what dreams are made of.)

Judy is in a Zone 7 region, compared to your zone 6 (as am I) we lose about 25 "growing days" between the zones, this will definitely affect rebloom.

As everyone has mentioned Judy is one of the best, and If she lists it as Instant Rebloom, Then it surely does it. Judy's plants are great foundations to hybridize off of.

I would email her, and ask her about those plants, she will tell you everything she knows and might have other parent stock selection suggestions for you.

Thanks, for all the great info, I appreciate it. I do fertilize with 16-16-16 slow release, give lots of water, and try my best to keep them weeded, also, named plants are mulched, I believe that this is basic care. My hope with the instant rebloom is that since it begins before original bloom ends, that you won't need the amount of growing days the South gets. I do realize that like most perennials, it takes two or three years to see top performance of the plant. Kathy, A Lot Like Love is one of the plants I was thinking about. The prices of these are well above what I typically pay for Daylilies, and getting my wife to see the value in spending this amount of money on a plant, has been challenging. After your report on it, I will have to see if I can charm her into a little more Daylily money.

Thanks again,
Gale

I agree with Kathy's assessment of A LOT LIKE LOVE. It is an AMAZING plant and stays in bloom like her photo above for weeks and weeks and weeks. Its parents WHITE EYES PINK DRAGON and DIVAS IN DIAMONDS are also personal favorites of mine.

As of last season, the following of Judy's plants displayed instant rebloom for me:

ABBY DAVISSON
A LOT LIKE LOVE
BOSS LADY
MAMA DRAMA
MISTER BUTTERS (3 scapes per fan!)
POLLY ESTHER (3 scapes per fan!)
REDDY FREDDY
STILL THE ONE
YADA YADA YELLA

I know many others are capable of instant rebloom but might not yet be established enough for me.

Remember that Judy's hybridizing roots are in Michigan. Although she currently gardens in zone 7, her winters are quite rough with constant freeze-thaw and no snow cover. She is very open about the few registrations she has which are not likely to do well in the north.

Can they be grown in the south?

Becky,
Judy lives in NC. She ships plant all over the US. She Davi on this site.

beckygardener said:Can they be grown in the south?

You should contact her with questions about specific cultivars you are interested in. Many of her cultivars are from dormant lines, and may not do well as far south as you are. They grow well in my zone 9 garden, but I'm pretty far north, roughly the same latitude as Lexington, KY.