New to growing daylilies. I am in zone 8b, and wonder how dormant daylilies will do in this zone. Friend says I should only get Evergreen or SemiEvergreen. True??

I am in zone 9a and grow many dormants, they are the best looking plants when they emerge in the spring!

@wilmalou2001

I just checked my plantstep flower program and I grow nearly 70 dormants. I have lost some dormants and I still have a few that really struggle. Most of them do very well, and a few of them are some of my favorites and best performers. One I really like but that I just can not get to grow well here is 'Smoky Mountain Autumn'. So at best I suppose it is a matter of trail and error. But, I certainly would not rule out growing dormants here in my zone 8b garden. Before you buy a dormant you might want to check here on the forum and ask how it does for some of us in 8b.

I'm in 8b (Georgia) and the dormants struggle for me due to the heat and humidity. I try to check with the seller before buying. If the seller is in my area, I will take a chance. I love Get R Done, but it is a hard dormant that would not last a season with me. I do have a few dormants that do okay with me but for the most part I avoid them now.

I think that's the difference, some are labeled as 'hard dormant' and that isn't anything listed officially, just from experience so great idea to post here and ask for input.
I grow Primal Scream and it does fine but my best dormant that performs beautifully is Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Point of View')

For what It's worth the people I buy from say if you don't have cold weather, you should stick to evergreen or semi-evergreen.

The dormant ones need a period of dormancy to recover. They may grow, but will not be as productive or live as long as they will in an area with cold weather.

I'm smack dab in the middle of zone 7 and most of my plants are dormant. But I am looking more at evergreens. It seems like they may have a head start over the dormant in the spring and we had a very mild winter this year.

But it seems there are a lot more choices in the dormant category.

Flowersgalore said:
But it seems there are a lot more choices in the dormant category.

I am in 6B and it seems to me all the pretty ones are evergreens. I think it is zone envy I know I have some some evergreens that do fine. Like Larry said it is trial and error to know if they will grow for you. So are far as dormants go I would check here in the database and ask if anyone in your area is growing. Also if you buy from a seller in your zone or warmer that should be a good sign?? That's what I am doing with any evergreens I buy this year. , my zone or colder.

Thanks for all your kind replys. I see so many beautiful Dormants (zone envy) but will try to stick to Semi-Evergreen or Evergreen. This is the first year we will have blooms, hopefully, and are excited to see what we have done.

wilmalou2001 said:
Thanks for all your kind replys. I see so many beautiful Dormants (zone envy) but will try to stick to Semi-Evergreen or Evergreen. This is the first year we will have blooms, hopefully, and are excited to see what we have done.

and remember to post pictures of your blooms!

I lived in the Atlanta area for nearly 9 yr. All my daylilies were dormants because I thought they had better color. About 20 yr ago I moved to beachside in Central FL and now grow all evergreens. What I have found is that is the last 10-15 years, hybridizers who registered evergreens have made great strides in the form and colors in evergreen daylilies. Now it is hard for me to look at a picture of a daylily and say with any confidence that it is evergreen or dormant. I used to be able to do that!