Daylilies: The Perfect Perennial

Daylilies, as the Hills proclaim, may be the perfect perennial. Requiring little maintenance, adaptable to an almost unlimited range of landscapes and climates and available in an extraordinary selection of colors, textures, fragrances and sizes, they proliferate nearly as quickly as they're bred--though each flower blooms for only a day. Now that more than 42,000 varieties flourish, the Hills' guide seems particularly useful. It begins with practical information on how to choose, grow and maintain daylilies, and progresses to more esoteric details, such as how to arrange them ok?/mm and how to preserve them on film. If the latter seems a bit extreme, the authors come back down to earth at book's end with a comprehensive listing of their favorite cultivars. Horticulturists particularly will appreciate chapters on starting new plants from existing ones and counsel on breeding original cultivars. Illustrations and photos not seen by PW. (Feb.)