The ‘Cranberry Baby’ daylily (Hemerocallis) is a popular, compact, dormant-type perennial known for its vibrant, raspberry-red ruffled blooms and contrasting green-gold throat. Standing about 30 cm (12 inches) tall, it is a versatile dwarf variety ideal for borders, small gardens, and container planting. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
🌸 Key Characteristics
- Blooms: Small (about 7 cm wide), cranberry-red flowers with a darker eyezone. Each flower lasts only one day, but the plant produces an abundance of them.
- Bloom Time: Early to mid-season, with strong repeat-blooming habits lasting into the autumn.
- Foliage: Arching, strap-like, deep green foliage that dies back in the winter (dormant).
- Origin: Hybridized by Croker in 1984. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
☀️ Growing Requirements
- Light: Thrives in full sun to partial shade (requires at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily for best blooming).
- Soil: Prefers fertile, well-draining, and humus-rich soil but is highly adaptable to poorer soils or clay.
- Water: While drought-tolerant once established, it performs best with regular watering during hot, dry spells.
- Hardiness: Extremely cold-hardy (USDA Zones 3–9) and frost-tolerant. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
🌿 Garden Uses & Care
- Uses: Perfect for informal edging, mass plantings to cover bare patches, or potted patio displays. [1, 2]
- Maintenance: Low-maintenance. Simply remove spent flower stems after the bloom cycle to encourage new buds, and clear away old foliage in late fall. [1, 2, 3]
- Edibility: Like all daylilies, the flowers are edible and are often added to salads for a pop of color, though they are usually grown purely for ornamental purposes. [1, 2, 3, 4]
