Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Mississippi Red Dragon')
Hemerocallis 'Mississippi Red Dragon' is a low-maintenance Daylily featuring showy, fragrant red blooms from June to August.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ is a spectacular tetraploid Daylily cultivar highly valued by gardeners for its reliably low maintenance and striking visual display. This variety produces a cascade of fragrant, deep red blooms highlighted by crisp white margins and appealing green throats through the height of summer. As a member of one of the most adaptable perennial genera, the Daylily provides reliable color and structure in landscape designs.
Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ matures to a manageable height of 1 to 1.5 feet, making it perfect for adding vibrant mounds of deep color without overpowering smaller plantings. These herbaceous perennials are celebrated for their rapid growth and ability to thrive across varied conditions, provided they receive adequate moisture during dry spells.
Gardeners should appreciate the extended season of performance offered by this cultivar, which blooms reliably from June into August, often offering sporadic reblooming. Planting Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ ensures a dependable, showy accent that brightens borders and large grouping designs throughout the warmest months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asphodelaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Red with white margins and a green throat
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Daylilies are famous for being extremely adaptable, but they perform best when planted in average, well-drained soils, ideally deep, fertile loams, during spring or fall. Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ needs full sun for the most prolific flowering, though it tolerates partial shade provided it still receives several hours of direct light daily.
Watering should remain consistent; maintain medium moisture levels, especially appreciating a deep watering during prolonged summer heat to keep the foliage looking attractive. Maintenance is generally low; deadhead spent flowers daily for neatness, and remove the entire scapes once blooming has finished. Hybrid daylilies, including this cultivar, will not breed true from seed, so propagation must be done via division.
This cultivar is a winter-dormant variety, meaning it requires a cold period of winter dormancy for optimal performance, and is therefore not recommended for the warmest regions above Zone 9. For best performance and to rejuvenate the clump vigor, plan to divide mature Daylily plants every 3 to 4 years, preferably in the spring, particularly in cold northern climates.
Landscape Uses
The sturdy, medium-sized nature of Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ makes it an incredibly versatile landscape workhorse. These easy-to-grow herbaceous perennials excel when planted along borders where their intense color can line pathways effectively. They also perform beautifully when used for mass planting over large areas, creating sweeping carpets of rich, reddish-jewel tones.
Consider using this Daylily for edging beds, interspersed among contrasting foliage plants like ornamental grasses or broad-leafed hostas to enhance the visual impact of the deep red flowers. While this specific cultivar is not dwarf, well-behaved groupings provide excellent structure and density that helps suppress weeds effectively.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hemerocallis is a genus of about 15 species of herbaceous perennials commonly known as daylilies, with most commercial plants being complex hybrids developed over years of dedicated breeding. Each individual flower typically opens for only one day, but the succession of blooms across the spikes ensures a long flowering period. Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ is specifically noted as a reblooming, tetraploid daylily, featuring blooms up to 6.5 inches across held aloft on 1.5-foot scapes, adding significant impact to mid-season displays.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
Potential Problems
Daylilies are remarkably robust plants, often described as pest-free, though occasional outbreaks of mites, aphids, or thrips may occur. In humid or susceptible regions, Daylily rust can sometimes present a challenge, requiring vigilant inspection of the foliage. On the positive side for wildlife management, rabbits tend to avoid consuming the foliage of Hemerocallis. If pests do appear, minor insecticidal soap application is usually sufficient for control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Daylily suitable for?
Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ is hardy across USDA Zones 3 through 9, requiring a cold winter dormancy period.
How large does Daylily grow?
Mature clumps of this Daylily typically reach a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, with an equal spread of 1 to 1.5 feet.
When does Daylily bloom?
This Daylily offers its primary display from June to August, showcasing beautiful red flowers with striking white margins and a green throat.
What sun exposure does Daylily need?
For optimal blooming, aim to site Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ where it receives full sun, though it will tolerate partial shade conditions.
Conclusion
The Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ remains an outstanding, nearly foolproof choice for vibrant summer color, characterized by its showy, fragrant red blooms and low-maintenance nature. Adding this robust Daylily to your garden ensures reliable performance across many soil types and climates within its designated hardiness range. Before planting, confirm your climate matches USDA Zones 3-9, and plan for spring division every few years to maintain peak health and flowering power.
Companion Planting
Choosing companions that possess similar cultural needs—full sun to part shade and medium, well-drained moisture—will ensure the entire border thrives. Pair the intense red of Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ with silver or blue foliage plants to make the color really pop. Try juxtaposing its linear foliage against the broad leaves of Hostas or the fine texture of ornamental grasses like Blue Fescue.
Consider planting later-blooming perennials behind the Daylily. Once the main flush of Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ passes, asters or sedum varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ will take over the display, providing excellent succession planting throughout the late summer and fall landscape.
Design Ideas
This cultivar is easily integrated into formal foundation plantings or used extensively in cottage garden themes due to its adaptability. For a striking mid-border display, mass planting in groups of five or more creates a strong visual impact driven by the repeating red and white pattern. When planting near patios or walkways, their attractive daytime fragrance, a sought-after quality in the Daylily world, will be most appreciated.
For a modern design, repeat the Hemerocallis ‘Mississippi Red Dragon’ sparingly throughout a mixed border to create visual rhythm that connects separate planting areas. Ensure adequate spacing (about 1.5 feet apart) to allow air circulation, which helps minimize potential fungal issues like rust.
