Troubleshooting
Daylily 'Crimson Pirate' problems — and how to fix them
Daylily 'Crimson Pirate' (Hemerocallis 'Crimson Pirate') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Scape lodging
Tall scapes can blow over in exposed gardens. Stake with individual canes or use a grow-through ring support when scapes reach half height; avoid excess nitrogen, which exacerbates the problem.
Fading of red pigment
Extreme heat above 35°C bleaches the crimson tones. Afternoon shade in the hottest climates helps preserve colour during the bloom window.
Thrips
Cause streaking and distortion, particularly visible on the narrow spider-form petals. Apply spinosad spray in early morning when thrips activity is highest.
Rust
Puccinia hemerocallidis pustules on leaves weaken vigorous plants if unchecked. Remove infected foliage; treat with fungicide if more than 25% of leaves are affected.
Slug damage
Emerging foliage and scapes are attractive to slugs. Apply iron phosphate pellets around the crown in spring and after heavy rain.
Prevent daylily 'crimson pirate' problems before they start
Most daylily 'crimson pirate' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Daylily 'Crimson Pirate' problems — FAQ
Why is my daylily 'crimson pirate' scape lodging?
Tall scapes can blow over in exposed gardens. Stake with individual canes or use a grow-through ring support when scapes reach half height; avoid excess nitrogen, which exacerbates the problem.
Why is my daylily 'crimson pirate' fading of red pigment?
Extreme heat above 35°C bleaches the crimson tones. Afternoon shade in the hottest climates helps preserve colour during the bloom window.
Why is my daylily 'crimson pirate' thrips?
Cause streaking and distortion, particularly visible on the narrow spider-form petals. Apply spinosad spray in early morning when thrips activity is highest.
Why is my daylily 'crimson pirate' rust?
Puccinia hemerocallidis pustules on leaves weaken vigorous plants if unchecked. Remove infected foliage; treat with fungicide if more than 25% of leaves are affected.
Why is my daylily 'crimson pirate' slug damage?
Emerging foliage and scapes are attractive to slugs. Apply iron phosphate pellets around the crown in spring and after heavy rain.