Daylilies are some of the easiest and most hardy perennials to grow in the garden. With their arching foliage and colorful flowers, these plants are truly a favorite among many gardeners. Learn how to grow daylilies, and experience this fabulous plant in your own garden landscape.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are among some of the most versatile and beloved perennials in the gardening world, cherished for their bright blooms and exceptional adaptability.
The Genus for daylilies is “Hemerocallis,” and comes from the Greek words meaning “day” and “beauty,” explaining the fact that each gorgeous flower typically lasts for just one day. However, because each plant scape produces multiple buds, the flowering period can for last several weeks throughout the summer.
Daylilies are remarkably easy to grow, thriving in a wide range of soil types and conditions. Their resilience and low maintenance needs makes them a popular choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
They are also available in an astonishing variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, with thousands of cultivars to choose from. In fact, there are over 100,000 cultivars now registered with the American Daylily Society.
Choose The Right Daylily Type
Daylilies are divided into three main types, based on their foliage behavior throughout the year. These types are evergreen, semi-evergreen, and dormant.
Understanding each type can help gardeners choose the right variety for their specific climate and garden conditions. Not all daylily types grow well in all growing zones. The types include:
1. Evergreen Daylilies
- Evergreen daylilies retain their foliage throughout the year, making them suitable for warmer climates where winters are mild. These varieties may not experience a long period of winter dormancy, and can continue to photosynthesize on warmer winter days.
- This characteristic can also make evergreen daylilies more susceptible to winter damage, potentially breaking their metabolic processes if sudden deep freezes occur after warm spells.
- It’s important to realize that each individual evergreen daylily is also unique. Some have adapted very well and thrive in colder growing zones, acting more like semi-evergreen varieties in these colder climates.
- And some may just gradually fade away over time, never fully acclimatizing to their cooler locations.
2. Semi-Evergreen Daylilies
- In mild climates, semi-evergreen daylilies may retain some of their foliage throughout the winter, but in colder areas, they will lose most or all of their leaves and go into a partial dormancy.
- This daylily type is versatile and adapts well to a wide range of climates, making them a popular choice for gardeners in areas with moderate winters.
3. Dormant Daylilies
- Dormant daylilies completely lose their foliage, and go into a full state of dormancy during the winter. This makes them especially well-suited to cold climates, because the dormancy period helps them survive and conserve energy during harsh winter conditions.
- Once the temperatures warm up and the days lengthen in spring, dormant daylilies quickly emerge from the ground, rejuvenated and ready to grow and bloom.
Consider Your Hardiness Zone
When choosing daylilies for your garden, consider the typical winter temperatures of your USDA hardiness zone.
Evergreen varieties are best for warm, frost-free areas, while dormant types are ideal for regions with cold winters. Semi-evergreen daylilies are flexible and can be a great choice for many middle-ground climates.
However don’t let this hold you back from experimenting if you really want a daylily variety that may not be suitable for your climate. Some very well may be hardy, as I’ve discovered throughout the years.
Be Aware Of Daylily Genetics
When first starting to grow daylilies, you may not be aware that there are different cultivars with different numbers of chromosomes.
This generally will not matter to most gardeners, however it will matter if you want to cross pollinate and grow daylilies from seed. You see, daylilies with the same number of chromosomes should be crossed with each other, for successful seed formation.
Diploid daylilies have two sets of chromosomes, which is the normal amount for many living organisms, totaling 22 chromosomes in daylilies. These daylilies are compatible with other diploid daylilies, and most older daylily varieties are diploids.
Tetraploid daylilies have four sets of chromosomes, doubling the normal count to 44 chromosomes in daylilies. Tetraploids must generally be hybridized with other tetraploids as the difference in chromosome count makes crossbreeding with diploids challenging and usually infertile.
Both diploids and tetraploids offer unique advantages, and come with their own set of characteristics that can be leveraged depending on a gardener’s or breeder’s specific goals.
Choose Your Favourite Varieties
There are many different daylily varieties, and enough to fit a wide range of gardening tastes and styles. Before choosing your varieties, it may be helpful to realize that the daylilies can be categorized by color, shape, size, bloom time, and duration.
1. Daylily Color
Daylilies come in an impressive spectrum of colors, ranging from bright yellows and deep reds, to subtle pinks and even dark purples. There are no true white or blue daylilies however.
Some varieties feature multiple colors or striking patterns, such as complex eye zones and edges of the petals ringed in a different color, and even multiple colors.
“Diamond dusting” is a beautiful effect found on some daylilies. This effect makes the surfaces of the petals and sepals appear as if they have been sprinkled with tiny crystals or glitter, catching and reflecting light much like diamonds.
Another popular effect is streaking of the daylily petals with a darker color, giving the flowers a painted effect. It’s fun to try to reproduce these characteristics in your daylily seedlings, if you eventually take seeds from the plant to grow them.
2. Choose The Shapes You Love
Daylilies have a remarkable variety of bloom shapes, each adding a unique dimension to the garden. Here are some of the most popular forms:
- Singles: This is the traditional daylily flower form, featuring three petals and three sepals, all spreading outward.
- Doubles: These flowers have extra petals or petaloids (small petal-like structures), which create a fuller look. Double daylilies can either have extra petals in the center or petaloids that emerge from the throat, giving them a lush, intricate appearance.
- Toothy: This characteristic is found in some cultivars of daylilies, where the petal edges display distinct, jagged protrusions that resemble small teeth. The teeth can be subtle or pronounced, depending on the variety, and may appear as fine serrations or more noticeable, sharp protrusions.
- Unusual Forms: This category includes daylilies that don’t fit traditional forms, and feature distinct petal shapes and placements. Subtypes of unusual forms include:
- Crispate: Pinched, twisted, or quilled petal shapes.
- Cascade: Petals dramatically curl or cascade downward.
- Spatulate: Petals that are narrow at the base and significantly wider at the ends.
- Spiders: Spider daylilies are characterized by long, narrow petals that are longer than they are wide. The ratio of length to width is usually at least 4:1, creating a striking, spidery effect, and adding a touch of whimsy to the garden.
- Trumpets: These blooms are longer than they are wide, forming a trumpet-like shape that extends outward from the center. The petals and sepals flare less dramatically than in single forms, offering a more elongated and elegant look.
- Ruffled: Featuring heavily ruffled edges on the petals and sepals, these daylilies add a soft, textured effect to the garden. The ruffles can be light and delicate or deep and pronounced, depending on the variety.
3. Consider The Size:
The size of daylily blooms can vary significantly, from small flowers less than three inches in diameter, to large blooms that can be more than six inches across.
Large flowers tend to make a bold statement, and can be seen from a distance, making them perfect for adding a dramatic flair.
Smaller blooms often give a delicate, intricate look, especially when planted in groups.
4. Bloom Time And Duration:
Bloom Time
Daylilies will bloom predictably at different times in the season, according to the specific cultivars. These plants are known for their wide range of bloom times, which can be categorized into early, mid-season, and late blooming periods.
To achieve a garden that displays continuous color throughout the season, gardeners can strategically plant a mix of early, mid-season, and late blooming daylilies. This strategy keeps your garden lively and colorful from spring until fall.
Bloom Duration
The length of time each variety of daylily blooms can also vary, with some types blooming for just a few weeks and others potentially reblooming throughout the season.
Some daylilies are bred to have extended blooming periods, even up to several months. These are great for maintaining consistent color in the garden.
These are generally the reblooming daylilies, which produce several flushes of flowers over the course of a season, offering multiple displays of color.
One popular reblooming variety is Stella D’Oro, which is a favorite for landscaping design.
Propagating Daylilies
Daylilies can be propagated in several ways, by growing from seed or division.
Plants grown from seed will be brand new hybrids, and different than the parent plants. Those grown from division will be clones of the parent plant.
Growing From Seed
One of my absolute favorite ways to grow daylilies is from seed.
For the last 20 years or so I have been hybridizing daylilies, and making crosses between parent daylily plants that I love. It’s so much fun to grow these plants from seed, anticipating what the seedlings will look like, but not knowing until they finally bloom.
Often the seedlings will look like a combination of each of the parent plants, and sometimes even more spectacular.
Stratification
Daylily seeds require stratification for best germination results. The seeds however do not tolerate freezing, so are not candidates for winter sowing, or direct sowing in fall in cooler climates.
To stratify the seeds before planting, place in a baggie with moist vermiculite, and refrigerate for 3 weeks, for best results. You can also just place in a baggie without any medium, and then plant up after they have had at least 3 weeks of cold exposure.
Planting The Seeds
It’s best to plant daylily seeds in deep containers, rather than in cell trays.
If you have lots of seeds to plant, a great choice for containers are tall disposable drinking cups, such as solo cups.
Make sure to make drainage holes in the bottom of each cup.
Fill each cup with a good quality seed starting mix and moisten. You can plant 2 to 3 seeds per cup, as the seedlings will easily separate when they are ready for planting.
Plant each seed approximately 1/4″ deep.
Keep the soil moist while the seeds are germinating. After germination, water as needed.
If starting indoors, place the containers under grow lights, until the seedlings are ready to be planted out in spring. You can also plant and set the containers outside in a sunny location, if the weather is warm.
Make sure to harden off the seedlings before planting out.
It’s best to transplant plant your daylily seedlings into the garden early in the season if you live in a cooler climate. This will ensure the seedlings have become well established in their planting location before the frosts of winter set in.
Winter frosts can heave the root systems of young seedlings, and often they do not recover.
Daylilies grown from seed will often take several years to bloom, however it is well worth the wait. If you plant every year, you will have new blooms to look forward to every season.
Growing From Division
Lifting and dividing mature daylily clumps is a great way to make new daylily plants. You can also divide clumps every few years to prevent overcrowding and rejuvenate growth.
Only divide a daylily if there is more than one fan. Do not try to split one fan, but rather, cut between the fans.
To divide a daylily, first it must be lifted from it’s growing location, by digging it out with a shovel.
To do this, dig around the circumference of the plant, approximately 6 to 8 inches away from the plant itself, depending on the size. Dig down approximately 8 to 10 inches, to get the rootball, and gently lift it out with the shovel.
Set the plant on the ground.
Divide the plant in half with a sharp clean tool, such as a hori hori knife. This will cut neatly through the crown of the plant, making division easier.
If you have a large plant, you can make multiple divisions. Make sure that you have part of the crown and root system with each division that you save for planting.
Now it’s time to replant.
Planting Daylilies
Planting Time
Daylilies can be planted in the spring or the fall.
Planting in early spring allows the daylilies to establish their root system before the hot summer months, promoting stronger growth.
Planting in early fall (at least six weeks before the expected first frost) is also effective, especially in warmer climates, as it gives plants enough time to establish before winter.
I like to plant young seedlings early in our cooler climate, to get a good root system established before fall, and to prevent heaving from the frost.
Daylilies can also be planted in containers. If you live in a cooler climate, just make sure to plant the daylilies in the ground before winter, as they may not survive in the pot over winter.
Planting Process
Whether you are growing new seedlings, planting a division, or planting a bareroot daylily, it’s important not to plant the crown too deeply. Make sure that the crown of your daylily plant is approximately one inch below the level of the soil.
Seedlings grown in containers should be planted at the same soil level in which they were growing in the containers.
If you have multiple seedlings in each container, make sure to separate them, and be careful as you separate the root systems. This is fairly easy to do, and the plants generally tolerate it well.
Space daylily plants about 18 to 24 inches apart. This spacing allows room for growth and air circulation, reducing the risk of disease.
I tend to plant seedlings closer together, with a 12 inch spacing. As the seedlings grow they can be spaced out further, if they are going to be kept.
Plant bare root daylilies in the planting hole, on mounded soil, spreading the roots out in the hole to encourage outward growth.
Fill the hole with soil, gently firming it down around the roots to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and hydrate the roots.
Growing Conditions
Growing Zone
- Daylilies are hardy and low maintenance plants, generally thriving in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
- In colder zones (3-5), dormant daylilies are often the best choice. In warmer zones (7-9), evergreen and semi-evergreen daylilies that don’t go dormant, can do well in these locations.
Light Requirements
- Daylilies perform best in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. They can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter climates, but blooming may be reduced.
Moisture Requirements
- Daylilies are drought-resistant once established, and they can handle environmental stress better than many other perennials. This is due to their water storage system within their roots.
- For example, I overlooked a pot grown daylily in my greenhouse, and didn’t water the plant until the end of June. The plant grew and remained green, despite lack of moisture. Truly amazing.
Soil Requirements
- Daylilies do best in moderately fertile well-drained soil. Improve garden soil by mixing in compost or well-rotted manure, to enhance fertility and drainage.
- Dig and loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches before planting. This aeration is good for encouraging good root growth.
- These plants also grow very well in clay soil. Just make sure that there is good drainage, and that the plants are not sitting in standing water.
Maintenance And Care
Deadheading
Regularly remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Deadheading daylilies also improves the plant’s appearance.
Remember, each flower only lasts a day, however the spent blooms can become unsightly after blooming. The flowers are easy to remove, and with just a bit of care you can keep your daylily looking tidy and well kept.
Mulching
After planting, apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, keeps the roots cool, and suppresses weeds.
Pests And Diseases
Daylilies are generally robust and low-maintenance, but they can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases that may impact their health and flowering. Here’s a look at common issues and how to manage them:
- Aphids: Wash off with a strong jet of water or use insecticidal soap.
- Spider Mites: These mites like hot dry conditions. Increase humidity around plants with regular watering. If infestation persists, use miticides or horticultural oils.
- Thrips: Remove affected parts and use insecticidal soap or neem oil. In severe cases, systemic insecticides may be required.
- Slugs and Snails: Hand picking can work well. You can also use slug and snail baits or traps. Encouraging natural predators, such as birds and toads, can also help control populations.
- Daylily Rust: Remove and destroy affected foliage. Apply fungicides recommended for rust control, and avoid overhead watering to reduce humidity.
- Leaf Streak: Remove infected leaves to prevent spread. Ensure good air circulation around plants.
- Crown Rot: Ensure good drainage and avoid overwatering. Infected plants should be removed and destroyed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Get Daylilies To Bloom All Summer?
Getting daylilies to bloom all summer involves selecting the right varieties, and providing optimal care (such as deadheading), to extend their blooming period. Choose reblooming daylilies, or select a mix of early, mid-season, and late blooming varieties to ensure continuous bloom.
Do Daylilies Spread And Multiply?
Most hybrid daylilies will grow larger over time, and rate of growth is dependent on the specific cultivar.
These plants do not tend to spread, and are quite easy to control by lifting and dividing when they get bigger.
Species daylilies on the other hand, such as Hemerocallis fulva, also known as the orange ‘ditch lily’, can spread more readily, and sometimes quite aggressively.
What Do You Do With Daylilies After They Bloom?
After daylilies have bloomed, remove the spent flowers and scapes to tidy up the plants. Remove any dead or discolored foliage as well.
Conclusion
Daylilies are a wonderful addition to any garden, offering a wide range of colors, shapes, and bloom times to suit nearly any landscaping design.
This combination of beauty, simplicity, and toughness makes daylilies a perennial favorite in gardens worldwide.
Choose the right varieties for your climate, but don’t be afraid to try others if you really love them. Sometimes those daylilies that grow well in other climates may do well in yours as well.
A word of warning- if you start to grow daylilies just know, that one or two often means more, and opens you up to starting a whole collection! Happy gardening!
Do you grow daylilies in your garden? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience!
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