Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Swedish Girl')
Hemerocallis 'Swedish Girl' is a low-maintenance Daylily offering pale lavender blooms from June to July for USDA Zones 3-9.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ is a standout herbaceous perennial, prized for its reliable performance and attractive semi-evergreen foliage. This specific Daylily cultivar provides a delicate color contrast, making it a versatile addition to borders and mass plantings. Gardeners value this plant due to its low maintenance requirements and ability to thrive across a wide range of conditions in the garden.
As a Daylily, Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ features grass-like foliage that forms neat clumps, providing excellent texture throughout the growing season. The visual appeal peaks during its primary bloom time in early to mid-season when 5.5-inch flowers, pale lavender with ruffled darker edges and a yellow-green throat, appear on 2-foot scapes. Successfully growing Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ ensures consistent seasonal color with minimal intervention.
Originating from Asian species, modern Daylilies like ‘Swedish Girl’ represent decades of hybridizing success, resulting in robust, adaptable performers. This cultivar is best suited for gardeners seeking dependable, long-lived perennials that deliver beauty early in the summer landscape without demanding excessive water or complicated care routines.
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: Pale lavender with darker edges and a yellow to green throat
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ is straightforward; aim for spring or fall, although spring planting is safer in very cold regions. Locate your Daylily in soil that is average, medium moisture, and well-drained, though they perform best in deep, fertile loams. Full sun encourages the best blooming, but they tolerate partial shade well.
Maintenance for this gorgeous Daylily is generally low. Deadhead spent flowers daily to maintain neatness, and remove the entire scape once all flowers have finished blooming. While tolerant of summer heat and humidity, provide deep watering during extended dry spells to keep the foliage looking its best. Avoid fertilizing heavily, as this can encourage excessive leaf growth over flowering.
For optimal performance, plan to divide mature clumps of Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ every three to four years, ideally in the spring. Since this is a winter-dormant variety, it requires a period of cold dormancy; therefore, it is not recommended for the warmest parts of Zone 9 and higher. Foliage can be cut back if damaged by unusual winter cold to maintain a clean appearance until new growth resumes.
Landscape Uses
Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ excels as an easy-to-grow component in almost any garden design. Their sturdy, medium height (about 2 feet) makes them perfect for setting off taller background elements or lining walkways. They are superb for creating mid-height borders where their consistent, clumping habit provides structure all season long.
Use large drifts of this Daylily for mass plantings over expansive areas, which helps suppress weeds and creates a dramatic, unified sweep of pale lavender color in early summer. Alternatively, nestle individual clumps among ornamental grasses or contrasting foliage plants, leveraging their sword-like leaves for textural variety. While the description notes dwarf cultivars for rock gardens, Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ itself fits beautifully into robust perennial beds.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
- Good for cut flowers
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hemerocallis is a genus of about 15 species of herbaceous perennials commonly known as daylilies, native to Asia and central Europe. Hybridizers have significantly expanded the appeal of these plants; over 60,000 cultivars are now registered, featuring diverse colors and patterns. Each flower typically lasts only a day, but they are produced successively, ensuring a long bloom period, and Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ specifically offers pale lavender blooms on 2’ tall scapes.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
Potential Problems
Daylilies are exceptionally robust and adaptable perennials that are generally pest-free. Keep an eye out for occasional infestations of mites, aphids, or thrips, which can usually be managed with targeted horticultural oils or insecticidal soap. Daylily rust may become problematic in humid climates, requiring good air circulation and proper cultural care to prevent spread.
Rabbits rarely bother Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’; their tolerance for pests is one reason they remain a low-maintenance favorite. If rust appears, immediately remove and destroy infected foliage; ensure plants are not overcrowded to promote better airflow, which mitigates many fungal concerns common to Daylilies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Daylily suitable for?
Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ is suitable for USDA Zones 3 through 9.
How large does Daylily grow?
This Daylily cultivar typically reaches a mature height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, with a spread of 1.5 to 2 feet.
When does Daylily bloom?
Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ blooms from June to July, offering pale lavender flowers with darker edges and a yellow to green throat.
What sun exposure does Daylily need?
This Daylily variety performs best with full sun exposure but can adapt effectively to part shade conditions.
Conclusion
Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’ offers gardeners a beautiful, resilient Daylily choice characterized by its dependable low maintenance and lovely lavender blooms. Integrating this semi-evergreen cultivar ensures mid-season color that requires only basic grooming and occasional division. Check your local hardiness zone compatibility and plan to transplant or divide your clumps in the spring for the best success with your Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’.
Companion Planting
Choosing companions that share the need for medium moisture and tolerate partial shade allows your Daylily clumps to maintain an attractive appearance throughout the season. Hostas, with their contrasting broad foliage, make excellent structural partners near Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’, especially in areas receiving less than full sun. Furthermore, plants like ornamental grasses or tall, late-season bloomers such as black-eyed Susans can provide a vertical contrast to the 2-foot height of this Daylily during the early summer show.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring awakening is the primary time for action regarding your Hemerocallis ‘Swedish Girl’. As new shoots emerge, clear away any remaining old foliage debris to reduce hiding spots for pests and prevent fungal issues. If soil fertility is low, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer lightly around the base of the plant early in the season before heavy growth begins. In summer, consistent monitoring of moisture levels is key; while Daylilies are tolerant, deep watering during hot spells keeps the attractive, linear foliage crisp. Fall care is minimal for this winter-dormant type; simply let the foliage die back naturally before cutting it down to ground level before winter sets in.
