Cultivated since 1902, this amenable Chinese denizen presents splendid lemon-toned flowers well above a compact dark green fountain of lustrous tailored foliage. The nocturnal 6 in. wide blooms open late in the day, welcoming butterflies and plant purveyors alike with narrow recurved petals, a pronounced trumpet shape and a lovely fragrance. Well-suited for the rockery, cottage garden or an adequately-drained mixed border, pest-free Hemerocallis citrina tolerates bunnies, air pollution plus an array of garden soil.

Blooms June–July

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 3.

This dwarf Daylily has a refined and dainty, yet in some ways, exotic look. Persistent, richly colored brown buds and mahogany-striped, deep yellow flowers grace numerous branched stems arising from bright green, narrow foot high leaves. With its unusual blend of yellow and mahogany, ‘Corky’ can be celebrated en masse in a bed or individually in the rock garden.

Blooms mid-June – late July.

Size: 20" high x 12" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Gracing gardens since the 16th century, lovely lily-style bright lemon-yellow flowers promise a sweet fragrance and the earliest bloom time. Shiny strap-like bright green leaves describe a verdant semievergreen mass beneath dozens of narrow-petaled, 3 to 4 in. long blossoms, which are popular in Asian cuisine and favored by hummingbirds. This robust Chinese native can be planted near pathways, massed in mixed borders or allowed to naturalize, where it complements blue-flowering perennials, wards off bunnies and smothers weeds.

Blooms July–August

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 3.

Delivering a radiant lightly perfumed performance, 6-petaled golden-orange flowers unfurl from chocolate-brown tinged buds. The tightly clustered cup-shaped blooms and prominent bracts are poised above a low-growing ornamental clump of narrow and arching, grassy-green blades that remain evergreen in warmer locales. Acquiescent to periodic dry conditions once established, this northeast Asian native affords a fresh or wilted culinary delicacy plus enhances containers, pathway edges, ponds and bouquets.

Blooms May–July

Size: 2' 0" – 2-1/2' high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Conjuring angels colored by children’s crayons, as many as 25 soft pink blooms festoon each stem. Each 6 in. wide flower showcases undulating margins and a halolike lavender band that rims the long, vibrant chartreuse throat above a bed of arching sword-shaped blades.

Blooms June – July.

Size: 2' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.