Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Zada Mae')

Overview

Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ is a popular diploid cultivar celebrated for its distinctive peach and apricot double flowers, an appealing addition to any perennial garden. As a Daylily, it offers exceptional reliability, blending vibrant midseason blooms with surprisingly low maintenance requirements. Gardeners value this variety for its sturdy growth habit and the sheer quantity of color it provides throughout early summer.

This herbaceous perennial develops clumps of arching, dark green, linear foliage, creating a neat backdrop for the flower scapes. Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ is notably adaptable, thriving across a wide climatic range from USDA Zone 3 through Zone 9, making it versatile for many regions. Its compact size and showy nature ensure it remains a centerpiece without dominating the garden space.

With a low maintenance schedule, this Daylily rewards attention with continuous performance. Deadheading spent flowers helps maintain neatness, though it isn’t strictly necessary for plant health. Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ provides excellent textural contrast and consistent color, solidifying the Daylily’s reputation as one of the most indispensable garden perennials.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Asphodelaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1.5-2 ft
  • Spread: 1.5-2 ft
• Bloom Time: June to July
• Bloom Description: Peach
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ is best accomplished in spring or fall, though spring establishes faster growth for the same season. These Daylilies perform excellently in average, medium-moisture, well-drained soils. While they tolerate various soil types, they perform best and produce the most robust blooms when planted in deep, fertile loams under full sun to part shade conditions.

Routine care for this Daylily is straightforward. Ensure plants receive deep watering during dry spells to keep the foliage looking attractive, as they tolerate summer heat well. A critical maintenance step for all Daylilies is deadheading spent blossoms daily to maintain tidiness, and removing the entire flower scape once all blooms have faded.

Divide clumps every three to four years for the best performance; spring division is generally preferred, especially in colder northern climates. Remember that hybrid daylilies like Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ will not reliably come true from seed, so division is the primary propagation method. In colder zones, ensure winter dormancy is respected for the strongest next season’s display.

Landscape Uses

The consistent structure and mid-sized habit of Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ make it ideal for numerous landscape applications. Use these Daylilies to establish crisp, clean borders along walkways or driveways where their consistent foliage provides year-round structure, even when dormant. They work beautifully when massed over large areas, creating blankets of color that are easier to maintain than traditional perennial beds.

Due to their adaptability to varying light levels from full sun to part shade, they integrate well into transitional planting areas near deciduous trees or large shrubs. Consider planting Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ alongside later-blooming perennials that offer contrasting foliage texture, such as ornamental grasses or hostas, to extend visual interest beyond the June-July bloom time.

Dwarf selections are mentioned as excellent for rock gardens, and while ‘Zada Mae’ is compact (1.5 to 2 ft), its solid performance also suits edging applications. For a neat, unified look, plant them in drifts of odd numbers, ensuring you select a location where future division every few years is logistically simple.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Hemerocallis is a genus rich with hybrid vigor; the Daylily sold today is overwhelmingly the result of dedicated cross-breeding, resulting in thousands of registered cultivars. Each individual flower on Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ lasts only a single day, but the plant produces flowers in succession throughout its blooming period. ‘Zada Mae’ specifically showcases 4.5-inch peach/apricot double flowers rising atop scapes that reach about 22 inches high, above basal clumps of dark green, blade-like foliage.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Erosion
• Air Pollution

Potential Problems

Daylilies are renowned for being extremely adaptable and generally resist most common garden pests and diseases, making them a foundational choice for low-effort gardening. Should issues arise, watch for occasional outbreaks of mites, aphids, or thrips, which can usually be managed with horticultural soap or mild insecticidal sprays. Daylily rust can become problematic depending on regional humidity; inspecting foliage regularly allows for early intervention. Rabbits, which are often a nuisance to other plants, characteristically tend to avoid chewing on Daylily foliage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Daylily suitable for?

Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ is suitable for a wide range of climates, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.

How large does Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ grow?

This Daylily typically reaches a height of 1.5 to 2 feet and spreads between 1.5 and 2 feet at maturity.

What sun exposure does Daylily need?

Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ requires full sun to part shade for optimal performance and bloom production.

When does Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ bloom?

This cultivar blooms from June to July, offering peach-colored flowers during its primary flush.

Conclusion

Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ offers gardeners a reliable, low-maintenance solution that delivers substantial floral impact with its showy, peach-toned double blooms. The daylily remains a staple because of its toughness and adaptability across multiple zones. Before planting, confirm your location falls within USDA Zones 3-9 and plan for spring planting to maximize enjoyment this season.

Companion Planting

Selecting companions for Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ often focuses on plants that thrive under similar sun and moisture conditions, or those that can mask the foliage after the Daylily bloom subsides. Tall ornamental grasses provide excellent vertical contrast to the mounding habit of the Daylily, especially species that emerge or begin to transition color later in the summer. Hostas are classic partners, as they share a preference for partial shade and offer contrasting leaf texture, softening the linear look of the Daylily foliage.

For areas receiving consistent full sun, consider pairing Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ with vibrant salvias or ornamental alliums. These companions can bloom earlier or later, filling the gaps in color display while sharing the Daylily’s preference for well-drained soil and medium moisture levels. Avoid dense plantings immediately adjacent to the crown, which can impede air circulation and potentially encourage fungal issues.

Propagation Tips

Since modern hybrid Daylilies such as Hemerocallis ‘Zada Mae’ do not breed true from seed, propagation relies almost entirely on vegetative division. This process should ideally be done either in the fall or early spring, making sure to divide the root mass into sections, each having several healthy fans (leaves) attached. Spring division, particularly in colder climates, is beneficial as it allows the newly separated fans more time to establish before winter dormancy sets in.

Ensure that each divided section of the Daylily has a firm piece of the crown and ample fibrous root material attached for immediate establishment. Replant the divisions promptly into prepared, well-drained soil, submerging the crown only slightly below the soil line, similar to its original depth. Proper spacing during division (allowing room for several years of growth) ensures robust future blooming performance.