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From Seeds to Bloom
Discover the origins of 5 Acre Farm and the seeds that shaped us, along with the new landscapes we will cultivate! With rich soil, deep roots, and ever-growing stalks, 5 Acre Farm is home to an array of beautiful daylilies, including those nurtured by Jim Wuersch. Learn more about us below, and let’s dive into the world of daylilies together!
A Tapistery of Stories and How They Interconnet
Jim Wuersch
Aaron Slayton
Aaron Slayton
Jim Wuersch has over 25 years of experience as a daylily hybridizer. For 24 of those years, he hybridized with his late partner, Rod Kroemer, at their 5 Acre Farm, which still boasts many seedlings created by the couple. In 2025, Jim will begin introducing seedlings that he has hybridized on his own, with some eventually released under the Wuersch name alone.
Aaron Slayton
Aaron Slayton
Aaron Slayton
Aaron is a recent addition to 5 Acre Farms, where he has entered into a committed relationship with Jim Wuersch. Together, they have already begun hybridizing 5 Acre Farm daylilies and have developed several seed pods for seedlings. Eventually, there will be cultivars registered under the Slayton name, showcasing their work in Jim Wuersch daylily breeding.
Kroemer-Wuersch
Kroemer-Wuersch
Kroemer-Wuersch
Rod and Jim Wuersch began hybridizing daylilies on their 5 Acre Farm in 2005, but it wasn't until 2010 that they registered their first daylily. The couple’s inaugural introduction was a CASA plant known as Ashlawn Farms. Over the span of 24 years, they hybridized and registered more than 80 cultivars, with 32 being formal introductions a
Rod and Jim Wuersch began hybridizing daylilies on their 5 Acre Farm in 2005, but it wasn't until 2010 that they registered their first daylily. The couple’s inaugural introduction was a CASA plant known as Ashlawn Farms. Over the span of 24 years, they hybridized and registered more than 80 cultivars, with 32 being formal introductions and over 50 that they hybridized themselves. After Rod passed away in 2024 while digging daylilies, Jim was left with numerous seedlings that they had worked on together. The future may yet reveal additional introductions registered under the Kroemer-Wuersch name.
Ron Valente
Kroemer-Wuersch
Kroemer-Wuersch
Ron Valente owned a nursery in North Berwick, Maine, called Valente Farms. Rod and Jim visited the farm for the first time in 1985 and continued to visit every summer, forming a friendship with Ron Valente and getting to know his family. In 2003, after Ron passed away, Jim and Rod purchased Valente Farms to find a purpose for the unused 5
Ron Valente owned a nursery in North Berwick, Maine, called Valente Farms. Rod and Jim visited the farm for the first time in 1985 and continued to visit every summer, forming a friendship with Ron Valente and getting to know his family. In 2003, after Ron passed away, Jim and Rod purchased Valente Farms to find a purpose for the unused 5 acres they owned and to honor their friend's legacy. The farm had become too demanding for Ron's widow, Cindy, and Rod and Jim were eager to help in any way they could. They had little experience, having acquired an entire farm to uphold a legacy they hoped to live up to. At that time, Valente Farms had 29 registered cultivars, but there were numerous seedlings that Ron never had the chance to introduce before he passed. Of these, 24 were eventually introduced by Jim and Rod, bringing the total number of registered cultivars in Valente's legacy to 53. Today, Valente Farms is a cherished part of 5 Acre Farms, and all of his cultivars are included as part of the 5 Acre Farm stock, recognized as 5 Acre Farm Daylilies, with Valente being the hybridizer. Among these is the renowned Jim Wuersch daylily, showcasing the ongoing impact of Ron’s work.
Future Projects
5 Acre Farm Giftshop
Exciting updates are on the way—look out for the 5 Acre Farm daylilies, featuring the stunning Jim Wuersch daylily, coming in 2026!
Future Projects
Click the image for more info about Jim Wuersch's stunning 5 Acre Farm daylilies!
Reverence for the Seeds of 5 Acres
Ron Valente
Dr. Wesely "Wes" C. Whiteside
Dr. Wesely "Wes" C. Whiteside
Ron Valente started as a way for Jim Wuersch to explore his love for cultivating 5 Acre Farm daylilies.
Dr. Wesely "Wes" C. Whiteside
Dr. Wesely "Wes" C. Whiteside
Dr. Wesely "Wes" C. Whiteside
August 27, 1927 - July 18, 2015. Dr. Wesley C. Whiteside, age 87 of rural Charleston, was a nationally recognized botanist and retired Botany Professor at Eastern Illinois University. He dedicated much of his life to cultivating his gardens, especially known for his innovative daylilies, some of which were introduced through 5 Acre Farms.
August 27, 1927 - July 18, 2015. Dr. Wesley C. Whiteside, age 87 of rural Charleston, was a nationally recognized botanist and retired Botany Professor at Eastern Illinois University. He dedicated much of his life to cultivating his gardens, especially known for his innovative daylilies, some of which were introduced through 5 Acre Farms. His passion for gardening and hybridization contributed to the legacy of 5 Acre Farm daylilies. Dr. Whiteside was indeed a remarkable man and one of the key figures behind the success of 5 Acres. Obituary, 5 Acre Timeline, Whiteside Gardens, and Jim Wuersch daylily.
