Information about Daylily Plants

INFORMATION ABOUT DAYLILY PLANTS...

By: Nikki Phipps

Hemerocallis comes from the Greek words èmera, meaning day, and kalos, meaning beautiful. Translated, it means ‘beauty of a day’ and is so named because each bloom lasts for only a single day. Hemerocallis is one of the most hybridized of all garden plants.

While these plants originated from Eurasia, daylilies are now grown in every state in the U.S. and in many countries around the world. Today’s daylilies come in a variety of colors—from rich, vibrant red to pink, lavender, purple, white, and even black—and oftentimes consist of interesting patterns and shapes, from trumpet or funnel-shaped to those resembling Amaryllis.

The name DAYlily comes from the fact that the flowers of most species open at sunrise and wither at sunset, to be replaced by another one on the same stem the next day; some species are also night-blooming. Only a few cultivars are scented, and the flowers and tubers of many varieties are also edible and considered a delicacy.

One of the easiest perennial flowers to grow, the daylily will tolerate most soil conditions and can survive for long periods without watering. However, just like any plant, the better care you provide, the better your daylilies will perform.

Daylilies grow best when planted in full sun to partial shade; and ideally, would prefer well-drained, humus-rich soil. Planting times usually vary, depending on where you live. For instance, fall planting is best in warmer climates to avoid the heat of the summer. And since the ground does not freeze, the daylilies will continue growing all winter and be well established before the heat of the summer arrives again.

In colder climates, the summers are not as hot as long so planting in the spring is recommended. This will enable the daylily to become fully established before the next bout of cold weather returns. Plant the daylily with its tubers spread out so that the crown is just beneath the soil, planting a little deeper is recommended for colder regions.

Daylilies can be planted as single plants or in groups, which form clumps. Daylilies look great as accents in mixed beds and borders and work well massed in groups on hard-to-plant slopes.

Daylilies multiply and should be periodically dug up and divided. Dividing can be done in the spring when the ground can be easily worked and the daylilies are actively growing or in the fall after they have finished blooming.

While daylilies like lots of water, keeping the soil wet when the temperatures are high will encourage fungal disease, such as daylily rust, and bacterial rots which can sometimes kill a daylily. Excess watering during the summer can lead to crown rot. Therefore, you should always give the soil a chance to drain well before you water again.

Pests which will sometimes affect daylilies include aphids, spider mites, thrips, slugs and snails.