Paul K. Lewis Fall 2025 Introductions

 

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025) (Caribbean Frank League (Talbott) X Tet. Fleishels Black) Tet., Sev, M, 6.5" bloom, 28" scape, 2 way branching, 12-14 buds. 

I'll never forget seeing this intro bloom for the first time. It was the first day of August and I wasn't expecting to see what a saw.  I took a video of it that day and I could see it all the way at the end of the row.  It was like no other dark daylily I have seen.  It was color of charcoal.  I believe the darkest daylily I have ever seen is it's parent Fleishel's black. (conversion done by Dan Trimmer) This is the closest to that color. (So far.) Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark is a dark violet purple to black blending into a triangular yellow throat. It is mainly pollen fertile, but I have set a pod. It wound up to be an air pod.  It might set pods in a greenhouse setting.  I will be using it's pollen in the coming years trying for an even darker daylily.  $300 for a SF.  SOLD OUT, but will be available from resellers in about a year. 

Autumn in New York (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025) (Clash of Absolutes (Hanson) X Kiss at Midnight (Grace)) Tet., Sev, M, 6" flower, 25" scape, 3 way branching, 15 buds. 

From a row of 4 siblings, this was the best from that cross.  It was planted in an odd part of the front yard garden, but every time I would walk by this section, it would draw me in for a closer look.  On some days the blooms would glow like the top picture.  Most days the second and third pictures are more representative of what it actually looks like. Autumn in New York is a deep violet bloom with a pink watermark eye zone blending into a yellow green throat. It makes medium to small fans.  Easily fertile both ways.  I feel this intro will be an important stepping stone towards more attention getting seedlings in the future. $150 for a SF. SOLD OUT. Will be available a year from now from re sellers. 

Web of Lies (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Web of Lies (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Web of Lies (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Web of Lies (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025) (The Downward Spiral (Lewis) X Pharaoh's Arrows (Pierce)) Tet., Sev, EM, 6" bloom, 32" scape, 2 way branching, 15 buds. 

One badly needed thing with patterned daylilies is height.  You won't miss Web of Lies.  Blooms sit on top of 32 inch scapes. Pattern varies with conditions and temperature, but it is fairly consistent. It occasionally has a faint pattern day, but most of the time you have nice patterns. Web of Lies is a light purple bloom with a dark purple eye zone with concentric rings blending into a yellow green throat. It is an easier pollen parent, but it will set pods with persistence. Out of a line of 5 other siblings, I selected 2 and this is the first one to be introduced.  $150 for SF. Only 1 left.

Red Voodoo (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Red Voodoo (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Red Voodoo (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

Red Voodoo (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025) (Electric Ladyland (Hanson) X Green Volcano (Pierce)) Tet. Sev, M, 5.5" bloom, 30" scape, 2 to 3 way branching, 14 buds.

The one thing that stood out about Red Voodoo (besides it's lovely color) are the small yellow teeth along the petal edges. I do think this will lead to red flowers with this look that also carry nice teeth.  Red Voodoo is a red flower with a light white watermark blending into a yellow green throat.  It carries small yellow teeth around the outer edge of the petals. Red Voodoo is mainly pollen fertile but will set an occasional pod with persistence.  $100 for a SF.  SOLD OUT. Will be available in a year from re sellers. 

A Hint of Lemon (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

A Hint of Lemon (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

A Hint of Lemon (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025)

A Hint of Lemon (Paul K. Lewis, Fall 2025) (Wowee Cherokee (Hensley) X Lemon Dazzler (Benz)) Tet., Sev, M, 6" flower, 26" scape, 2 way branching, 12 buds.

My first love in daylilies was the daylily, Hyperion in my Grandmother's garden.  I absolutely loved it's bright yellow color.  I have been on quest since then to hybridize a special yellow daylily. Most yellow daylilies lean towards the light yellow or a golden yellow color.  In my opinion the color of lemon yellow is the best. It was so hard finding suitable yellow intros to breed with.  John Benz's Lemon Dazzler came the closest.  I also liked Dale Hensley's Wowee Cherokee a lot as well, so the two had to meet up.  The best seedling from this cross was A Hint of Lemon.  Fortunately it is a very easy pod setter, so I have been hammering it with yellows that are similar hoping for that special lemon yellow daylily.  I have had some seedlings come close and Rey Skywalker, which is out of it got introduced.  I feel this will be a special parent for those of you hybridizing for this color.  It is finally time to introduce it.  Easily fertile both ways. $100 for a SF. SOLD OUT.  Will be available in a year from now from re sellers.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ANY OF THE ABOVE INTROS, EMAIL Paul K. Lewis at PLar4747@aol.com.  Thank you.