From the incredible breeding of Dr. Darrel Apps, our longest-blooming daylilies will deliver color for months, are hardy to at least zone 5 (most to zone 4), and have the colors and forms expected of a modern daylily. Dr. Darrel Apps got his desire for breeding daylilies when he worked for the University of Kentucky and saw how well the plants did in the hot summers of Lexington. He made his first cross in 1969 and has been breeding daylilies ever since (going on 40 years!). Much of Dr. Apps’ work has been developing daylilies that thrive in Northern climates, and now mid-Wisconsin (zone 4).

A career horticulturist who holds three degrees all from the University of Wisconsin. He has worked as a State Specialist in Ornamental Horticulture at both the University of Kentucky and The Pennsylvania State University and as Departmental Head of Education at the world-famous Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The last 13 years of his career were spent running his own specialty nursery, Woodside Gardens, in Bridgeton New Jersey. Apps sold his nursery in late 2007 and retired to his hometown area of Wild Rose, Wisconsin where he continues to breed daylilies.

Big Time Happy Daylily

‘Going Bananas’ has never been a strong grower in our area as it does not go fully dormant in winter. This last year our main supplier lost much of their crop due to an unusually harsh winter, and plants are in short supply. ‘Big Time Happy’ is our substitute, sharing a similar soft yellow flower color to ‘Going Bananas’ but boasts 4” wide flowers. Slightly ruffled petals open flat to display the yellow color, and blooms from early summer/June to frost. It is also fully dormant, a much hardier plant for our region.

Big Time Happy is part of the Happy Ever Appster Collection and the Northern Sunset Brand.

(Image courtesy of Walters Gardens)