Daylily Nut -- Hemerocallis 'Poly B'Golly'
2008 registration (click on the picture for a larger view)
The distinctiveness of H. 'Poly B'Golly' is quite simply that it is the first and (as of 2009) the only northern reblooming/everblooming high percentage polytepal daylily that exists (to my knowledge, at least -- and excepting another sib which is being kept for evaluation, see picture below). It bloomed at least 60% polytepal during the maiden 2003 bloom season. In fall 2003 the small clump was dug up and kept above ground all winter in a plastic bag filled with pine bark mulch. It was potted in a 4 gallon pot in spring 2004; and 60% of the 67 total blooms that year were polytepal. In spring 2005 the original clump was divided and repotted into eight pots, and of the 145 blossoms which occurred starting June 12th and ending October 10th 2005, exactly 80% were polytepal. In 2006 and 2007 detailed counts were not made, but the 80% figure appeared to continue to be valid.
This is a child of my previous introductions: (H. 'Quad Quiddity' x H. 'Quint Quandary'). It is EE, beginning bloom shortly after H. 'Stella de Oro', and then sending up a succession of at least four sets of scapes here in Maryland.
Flower size is 4", scapes are 22" tall. Flowers have extended bloom, but have a strong nocturnal habit, so that although the flower is open from dusk through the following day, they often begin to "melt" by mid-afternoon. The plant is solidly dormant. Branching and bud count are typical of the little yellow varmint/STELLA type flowers. Increase is rapid. The plant has proven to be very fertile both ways. Unfortunately that means it sets a lot of bee pods. This is definitely a front-of-bed plant, with very low arching foliage; so that although the scapes are short, flowers are held well above the foliage
There is a potential flaw in H. 'Poly B'Golly' which may detract from its garden presence. This "problem" seems to be dependent on climate and growing conditions. It hasn't occurred every year in my garden; but the foliage shows a strong tendency toward summer dormancy. Here in Maryland, on some years the poor thing has dropped absolutely all of its foliage by early to mid-August. Amazingly, even with this habit, it still manages to bloom almost continuously through this dormant period. Under good culture the latest set of scapes is still in bloom as the foliage dies in late July. Then new foliage immediately begins to emerge from the ground with a new scape pushing up through its center as it emerges! The resulting appearance can be quite peculiar in mid-August -- abundant new scapes with very little foliage! See the photos below that document this erstwhile August behavior. You may disagree, but I consider this summer dormancy "problem" to be secondary to the breakthrough characteristic of being a true northern everbloomer polytepal.
One sib to H. 'Poly B'Golly' also shows promise. It was 80% polytepal in 2003, 60% of the 20 total blooms were polytepal in 2004, and 60.2% of the 98 blooms were polytepal in 2005. It has rebloomed all summer every year, but is a little more stingy with sending up rebloom scapes -- it has taken a bit of a rest between rebloom scapes through mid-summer, and stopped blooming earlier than H. 'Poly B'Golly'. Here's a view of the sib, #03-QQQQ-2:
Now more on the summer dormancy of H. 'Poly B'Golly', and why I didn't register and introduce H. 'Poly B'Golly' sooner. In 2005, I set about 15 pods on my various divisions, all in pots. All but one of the eight divisions grew big, seed-filled pods; and this obviously stressed the poor plants. One small single fan, on which I set two pods shows the true sacrifices of motherhood, and also shows the tremendous vigor and resilience of H. 'Poly B'Golly'. Below at left is a view of this poor plant on July 30. The last of the leaves are withering away as the plant seemingly pumps all its energy into producing seed. By the time the pods were harvested the pods were the only above ground signs of life. But as the picture at right shows, by September 5, our little plant had sprung a fresh new shoot and was returing to life. By late September a second fan emerged on the other side of the original fan. And this little plant abundantly and easily bloomed and multiplied in 2006.
Under less stress, the new foliage emerges much more quickly and will push up abundant rebloom along with it. Below is a pair of photos taken on August 11, shortly after all the original foliage had died. The clump in the ground has sent up some foliage and plenty of healthy scapes and has begun to bloom again. In the background, and shown in close-up in the photo at right, the fans in the pot have sent up small scapes with almost no foliage preceding the emergence of the scapes.
Until you get to know her, H. 'Poly B'Golly' might give you heart palpitations in early August. But relax. I have yet to see a fan die. She has proven to be very vigorous and healthy -- she will reliably come back from this summer dormancy stronger than ever!
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Pete Wetzel
P.O. Box 21
Eldersburg, MD 21784
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