Robert Day Elliott

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Robert Day Elliott (1949-) is a daylily hybridizer who has produced a number of award winning flowers. His PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTY (83), KARMA (86), DUSTY DREAMS (91), and MAESTRO LEONARDO (94) all earned the American Hemerocallis Society's National Achievement Award.

Dr. Elliott is also the subject of some controversy over blue pigmentation in daylilies. Called "Dr. Blue" by some of his more vocal critics, he has produced a number of daylilies which he claims have significant amounts of blue coloration. A truly blue daylily has never been produced, but Dr. Elliott may have come as close as any to this elusive goal. Controversy over his results continues in online discussions such as Daves Garden and Tinkers Garden. (See Aloft, pictured to the right.)

Dr. Elliott holds advanced degrees in Horticulture, Agriculture/Environmental studies, and a Doctorate in Education from N.C. State University with a concentration in Landscape Architecture.
Aloft, Elliott 2003
Aloft, Elliott 2003
Image:DukeOfDurham2.jpg In 1977 Elliott earned his first daylily award with the introduction of Duke of Durham. This copper and purple flower has been used by other hybridizers to produced flowers with quite different coloration that nonetheless maintain a similar contrast between the eyezone and the remainder of the bloom (FIRST THANKSGIVING by R.J. Roberson, 1987; MESMERIZED by Duane W. Foss, 1990; FOXWOODS LITTLE PUMPKIN by Juanita Young, 1994, among others).

Like much of the rest of Elliott's work, Duke of Durham has spawned strong opinions. At the time of its introduction it represented not only a rare combination of colors, but an unusually full round form. With time, however, other strongly contrasting daylilies with full and round form have been developed, while copper to brownish tones have come into disfavor.

Today Duke of Durham can be found growing throughout the United States and Canada. In part because of its ability to thrive in a broad range of temperature zones, Duke of Durham continues to be used to breed new varieties of the hearty daylily.

Dr. Elliott's daylilies can be observed at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University as well as several other prestigious sites.

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