Best Article About Hybridizing “Region 4 Hybridizers and their Quest for the Perfect Little Daylily” by Charlie Zettek – Spring 2015
In “Region 4 Hybridizers and Their Quest for the Perfect Little Daylily,” Zettek shares why some breeders intentionally swim against the trend of ever-larger flowers and how “little” can mean more than bloom diameter if you consider the whole plant (scape height, habit, garden presence).
The article also grounds “small” and “mini” in the way the American Daylily Society defines its awards: miniature blooms are under 3 inches, and small blooms are 3 inches to under 4½ inches.
Who and what it covers (high level):
- Interviews and notes on five Region 4 hybridizers known for small/mini work: Curt Turner, Bob Sobek, Mike Huben, Kathy Rood, and Mike Patterson.
- Two different “camps” of goals: tall scapes with small flowers vs. compact plants with short scapes and little flowers (and why each approach has advantages in the seedling bed).
- Examples of traits these breeders prioritize (rebloom/extended bloom, clear colors, plant habit, branching/bud count, and more).
