King of Dragons (Gossard, 2025) 1Fan

The Hemerocallis daylily cultivar,’King of Dragons’ designated as Seedling BT5, is a tetraploid introduction featuring wine-purple blooms with a distinct lighter watermark. The petal edges are adorned with striking white shark’s teeth, fangs, claws, hooks, and tentacles, enhancing the flower’s dramatic texture. A vibrant green throat provides contrast, further amplifying the bloom’s intricate coloration. Measuring 5.5 inches in diameter, the flowers are supported by 28-inch scapes with 3–4-way branching, yielding a bud count of 16–22.
This early midseason bloomer exhibits a semi-evergreen growth habit, extended morning opening (emo), and a notable fragrance, making it a desirable addition to ornamental landscapes. It is also a reliable rebloomer and is fertile both ways, offering significant potential for hybridization efforts aimed at enhancing petal edge characteristics and coloration.
With excellent rust resistance, this cultivar thrives across USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4–10, making it a resilient and visually striking selection for daylily breeding programs and garden displays.