Published in 1998, Diana Grenfell’s The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Daylilies is a few years older than Peat and Petit’s The Daylily A Guide for Gardeners, from the same publishers; with in excess of 1,600 new plants registered each year in Daylily terms that is quite a big gap!

In 15 chapters Diana Grenfell, of the specialist Hemerocallis growers Apple Court in Hampshire, covers much of the same ground as Messrs Peat and Petit, with chapters on the Early History & Botany, Hemerocallis Species and Modern Hybrids. There are chapters which deal with Diploids Versus Tetraploids, Daylilies in the Garden, and Breeding Daylilies. Daylily Collections looks at collections in Europe and particularly the UK. Finally there are chapters from different contributors which discuss in turn Daylilies in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The last chapter looks at Cultivation.

The biggest section however is A Selection of the Best Daylilies, which lists daylilies according to colour. There are also chapters devoted to Small-Flowered & Miniature Daylilies and Spider & Unusual Daylilies. The book is illustrated throughout with colour photographs depicting over 150 different species and cultivars, and the colours are believable; there are also many line drawings which clearly explain much of the terminology used to describe the flowers.

But perhaps the real appeal of this book is in the descriptions of the plants. In addition to the basic details of size, flowering period ect, the author offers her evaluation and comments on the species and cultivars appearance and performance, particularly in cooler climates such as found in Britain. There is also useful advice on how to choose plants that will perform well in ones own particular garden, so while there be many newer introductions since the books publication, the reader is equipped to make wise decisions when it comes to choosing from among these. ( )