Reblooming Daylilies that aren't Stella de Oro

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15 Daylilies with as much bloom as 'Stella de Oro'

For those of us who have noticed the many many drifts of 'Stella de Oro' outside municipalities, lining streets, and 'decorating' businesses, here is a starter list that proves reblooming daylilies come in more than one color.

*Please note* that this is not a complete list of reblooming daylilies. There are many reblooming daylilies, such as 'Happy Returns', which did not make this list because we wanted to share some of our absolute favorites, not just what's popular. It is also worth pointing out that the daylilies in this article (with the exception of 'Baby Moon Cafe') all have flowers over an inch larger than 'Stella de Oro'.

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But first, let's talk about 'Stella de Oro'

Golden Yellow - 2¾" Flowers

Easily the most popular Dalily on the market, 'Stella de Oro' has become a landscaper's favorite. 'Stella de Oro' made waves when it was first introduced thanks to its long lasting blooms and persistent rebloom into early fall. It even won the Stout Silver Medal in 1987, which is the highest award a daylily can win.

That being said, a number of great varieties have been introduced since which match or improve on the reblooming power of 'Stella de Oro'. Here are a few of our favorites:

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1. 'Going Bananas' - RAINBOW RHYTHM® Collection

Yellow - 4" Flowers

'Going Bananas' is another incredibly popular reblooming daylily, this one from Proven Winners. Where 'Stella de Oro' is more of a golden yellow, 'Going Bananas' is banana yellow. 'Going Bananas' also has a larger flower size and will continue to bloom well into fall.

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2. 'Big Time Happy' - Happy Ever Appster® Daylilies

Yellow - 4" Flowers

A triumph for hybridizer Darrel Apps. 'Big Time Happy' improves with larger flowers and a long period of bloom. 'Big Time Happy' is also recognizable by its flowers that open flat, whereas 'Stella de Oro' retains a bit of a trumpet shape.

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3. 'Orange Smoothie' - RAINBOW RHYTHM® Collection

Mango Orange - 4" Flowers

New from Proven Winners comes 'Orange Smoothie'. This variety likewise has the reblooming quality necessary to make the list, but does so also with a variety of improved flower characteristics. Note 'Orange Smoothie' for its prominent eyezone, ruffled piecrust edging, and diamond dusted petals. You can also expect cookie cutter consistency when comparing the blooms on this plant.

'Orange Smoothie' also stands a nice 6" taller than 'Stella de Oro', with a clump size to match. Four way branching also means that at any given point in time, 'Orange Smoothie' will have more blooms than 'Stella de Oro'.

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4. EARLYBIRD ORIOLE™ - Jersey Earlybird™ Daylilies

Orange - 5" Flowers

Staying in the vein of orange reblooming daylilies, EARLYBIRD ORIOLE™ is another one of note. Much larger, 5" pumpkin orange flowers elevate this plant, as does its early blooming.

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5. EARLYBIRD CARDINAL™ - Jersey Earlybird™ Daylilies

Rose Red - 4" Flowers

Matching EARLYBIRD ORIOLE™ is CARDINAL™. This was the first red daylily to be an early, continuous blooming variety and hardy to northern zones. Gardeners in Zone 6 can expect about 100 days of color from a mature plant.

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6. 'Red Hot Returns' - Happy Every Appster™ Daylilies

Red - 5" Flowers

We consider this a premium daylily. Cherry red blossoms have a bright yellow halo and apple green throat. Blooms all summer and into fall.

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7. 'Passionate Returns' - Happy Ever Appster™ Daylilies

Rose Pink - 4" Flowers

Perhaps the highest quality bloomer of the Happy Ever Appster™ Daylilies, 'Passionate Returns' thrills with months of rosy red flowers.

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8. 'Romantic Returns' - Happy Ever Appsters™ Daylilies

Rose Pink - 5" Flowers

Similar to other members of the Happy Ever Appster™ series 'Red Hot Returns' and 'Passionate Returns', 'Romantic Returns' continues the expectation of extremely long season of color. Compared to 'Passionate Returns', this daylily is a deeper shade of pink with larger flowers.

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9. 'Sound of My Heart' - RAINBOW RHYTHM® Collection

Pink, Purple Eye - 5" Flowers

5", pastel pink flowers have a very wide, wine purple eye with a matching purple picotee edge on the ruffled margins. Petals open flat, maximizing the floral display.

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10. 'When My Sweetheart Returns' - Happy Ever Appster™ Daylilies

Peach Yellow, Rose Pink Eye - 4" Flowers

Another daylily with a contrasting eye to make this list, 'When My Sweetheart Returns' matches the height of 'Stella de Oro' though its blooms are a full inch larger. 'When My Sweetheart Returns' also opens almost perfectly flat, unlike 'Stella de Oro' who has a slight trumpet shape.

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11. 'Blackthorne'

Creamy Yellow, Wine Purple Eye - 4½-5" Flowers

While it might not have as much bloom longevity as 'Stella de Oro', 'Blackthorne is certainly more eye-catching! Huge wine purple eyes dominate the flowers and have a matching picotee edge outlining the petals. 'Blackthorne' will also stand about 12" taller in the garden than 'Stella de Oro'.

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12. 'Hungry Eyes'

Mauve Orange - 5" Flowers

5" mauve rose flowers have an orange tint and are beautifully contrasted with its wine red eye and matching picotee edge. We've observed consistent rebloom in our field, excellent for a daylily with this large of flowers.

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13. 'Double Pardon Me'

Red - 2¾" Flowers

A twist on the old classic! 'Double Pardon Me' has the same color as its namesake but with dramatically more tepals. Instead of the standard amount of 6 tepals, these flowers can have as many as 18 tepals. And it reblooms

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14. 'Stella Supreme'

Yellow - 3" Flowers

It shares the name 'Stella' and it may be the most similar of the daylilies on this list. 'Stella Supreme' has comparatively triangular flowers to 'Stella de Oro', though they are slightly larger and more of a lemon yellow. This variety also matches 'Stella de Oro' quite well in height and bloom season.

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15. 'Inkheart'

Yellow, Purple Eye - 5½ Flowers

One look at this beautiful daylily and you'll see why it got its name. Each creamy yellow flowers has a crisp, dark purple eye (or "heart") with a matching picotee edge. As an added bonus, this is a rebloomer, so you can enjoy these flowers well into late summer.