Hemerocallis 'Fragrant Returns' is a reliable reblooming daylily prized for its soft lemon yellow blooms and sweet fragrance. Each trumpet shaped flower opens in the morning and fades by evening, but new buds continue to appear throughout the season. It boasts a compact habit and grassy foliage making it an easy low maintenance addition to sunny borders and pollinator gardens.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late spring through fall (reblooming)
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Adaptable to most soils, prefers well drained loam
Watering Needs: Moderate; water during dry spells for extended bloom
Deer Resistance: Occasionally browsed by deer but typically resilient
Native Status
Though derived from hybrid Hemerocallis species originally native to Asia, 'Fragrant Returns' has been widely cultivated in North American landscapes and is valued for its toughness and adaptability.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- The wide open blooms provide easy nectar access for butterflies including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Great Spangled Fritillary.
Bees
- Visited by honeybees and native long tongued bees like Melissodes and Bombus species throughout its long bloom period.
Beneficial Insects
- Attracts hoverflies and predatory wasps which aid in pest control around the garden.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Plant 18 - 24 in apart in clusters for a massed effect or integrate into mixed perennial borders.
Landscape Placement:
- Suitable for foundation beds, pollinator strips, driveway edges, and as a colorful accent in low maintenance plantings.
Companion Plants
- Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' - Sturdy stems and pink purple flowers contrast beautifully with the soft yellow of 'Fragrant Returns'.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Deep purple flower spikes add vertical structure and attract beneficial insects.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' - Bright gold blooms and fine foliage pair well with daylilies for extended seasonal interest.
- Achillea millefolium 'Moonshine' - Soft silver foliage and yellow umbels mirror the tones of 'Fragrant Returns' and provide drought tolerance.
- Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' - Offers aromatic foliage and rich purple contrast that thrives in similar conditions.