Flowers having more than one colour in an irregular pattern comprising variable splotches, flecks, stripes, streaks, spots and sectors. This effect may also be referred to as broken colors or color breaking.
Although the mechanisms for flower variegation in daylilies have not been positively identified, it is thought likely to involve varying expression of transposons (transposable elements or “jumping genes”). Viruses can cause flower variegation in other plants but are not known to be a factor in daylilies.
These images show different examples of variegation in daylily flowers. Click on a thumbnail for full size.
Variegated seedling, Mike Holmes photo, used with permission
Variegated seedling, Mike Holmes photo, used with permission
‘Redefinable’ (Holmes-M, 2022). Mike Holmes photo, used with permission
See also: Variegated (foliage)
