From the time the fresh green foliage of daylily ‘Bonanze’ first emerges in the spring the garden comes alive. As soon as the weather warms up, plant Perilla ‘Crispa’ with it and let enjoy its purple leaves until mid to late summer when ‘Bonanza’ bursts into bloom with his golden yellow flowers marked with maroon that echoes the leaves of ‘Crispa’. A nice contrast is set up between the trumpet-shaped smooth flowers of ‘Bonanza’ and the ruffled foliage of ‘Crispa’. Even after the daylily flowers have disappeared this combination looks attractive in the border. Both plants grow well in sun to light shade and medium moist, well-drained soil.
Daylily (Hemerocallis) ‘Bonanza’
As the name implies, daylily flowers only last one day but they are replaced by new ones day after day for weeks. ‘Bonanza’s’ flowers are up to 4” long and slightly fragrant. Each petals has a prominent rib that gives the flower a star-like look.
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Bloom Time: Mid- to late season
Size: 27-33” H x 23-35” W
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Perilla frutescens ‘Crispa’
A relative of basil, Perilla ‘Crispa’ is a tender perennial that is usually grown as an annual. It produces small flowers on upward spikes from late summer into fall but is usually grown for its foliage. By pinching the tips the plants can be kept bushy and attractive. Perilla freely self-seeds and has become naturalized in many parts of the country.
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Bloom time: Late summer into fall
Size: 12-36” H x 12-18” W
Hardiness: Zones 9-10; grown as an annual
