All About Daylilies
Daylilies: Stars of the Summer Garden
Daylilies are the gardener’s dream come true! Luscious flowers come in a kaleidoscope of colors, blooming from early summer to early fall. Easy to grow and long-lived, most varieties are hardy throughout the United States and southern Canada (Zone 3- through Zone 9). Plus, thrive in a wide range of conditions— from cool hollows to dry hillsides.
An Ancient Plant Becomes A Gardener’s Delight
All the daylilies we grow in our gardens are descended from just seventeen species of ‘original daylilies’ that are native to eastern Asia, primarily in Japan, Korea, Mongolia and China, where they were also cultivated for many years.
These seventeen species (which are only distantly related to ‘true’ lilies, or Lilium) are grouped into the single genus Hemerocallis, which means ‘lovely for a day’ - a reference to the fact that each individual flower blooms for just a single day. About 400 years ago, plant explorers introduced a number of these daylily species to Europe and eventually to North America.
One introduced species is the familiar ‘Orange Daylily’ (Hemerocallis fulva) that now blooms with ease along country roadsides all across North America. But beware: in some states it is considered invasive. And it's not advisable to plant Orange Daylilies in your garden since, with the help of their strong underground runners, they will soon overrun everything else. They are, however, a perfect choice for hiding ugly building foundations and filling ditches.
Another introduced species is the old-fashioned ‘Grandma’s Lemon Daylily’ (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus) which still can still be found growing around the old farmsteads and cellar holes in the mountains of New England. With its early bloom time and lovely lemony fragrance, a small patch of Lemon Daylilies makes a welcome addition to any garden.
Today: A Multitude of Cultivated Varieties
Over the last seventy-five years, these seventeen daylily species have become the basis for hybridizers everywhere to try their hands at creating new varieties of daylilies. Depending on their native habitat, daylily species exhibit a variety of traits that can be exploited by hybridizers.
For instance, some species come from the mountains, meaning they will be quite hardy and will most likely go dormant in the winter. Others dwell in low lying areas and, while less hardy, keep their leaves year-round.
Some species have quite tall flower stalks (scapes), whereas others are extremely short. And their flowers range in color from pale yellow to strong orange and reddish, all the way to deep maroon.
Daylily hybridizers, both professional and amateur, have created the array of cultivated varieties of daylilies that are available to gardeners today. These include multi-colored extravaganzas as well as daylilies with extra-long bloom times. It is estimated that the number of different cultivated varieties (or cultivars) of daylilies now runs in the hundreds of thousands!
Daylilies Make Your Garden Come Alive
One of the easiest ways to energize your garden is to combine daylilies, with their huge blooms, and other favorite perennials that will bloom at the same time. And, with their striking flowers, daylilies create a dramatic textural contrast when grown alongside ornamental grasses and other perennials. Their strappy green foliage makes a garden look full and lush throughout the season.
Some varieties of daylilies are quite petite, so that two or three plants grouped together would make a lovely accent near the front of the border. Plant these with other short plants such as Nepeta (Catmint), Blue Fescue and Blue Oat Grass to produce a beautiful, enduring contrast of both color and texture for the front of the border.
Other daylilies have flower stalks that grow over 30 inches tall, and these will stand out in the middle of the border alongside Echinacea and Rudbeckia, all mixed in among some clumps of airy ornamental Grass. The whole composition can then be completed with a backdrop of taller Switch Grass.
Shop Daylilies
‘Fragrant Returns’ Daylily blooms again and again with sweetly scented lemon-yellow flowers, adored by butterflies and hummingbirds on blooms from mid-summer to fall. Petals are ...
Learn MoreFragrant Returns Daylily Fragrant Returns Daylily Hemerocallis Fragrant Returns$15.98 Sale $10.39Per Bag of 3‘Fragrant Returns’ Daylily blooms again and again with sweetly scented lemon-yellow flowers, adored by butterflies and hummingbirds on blooms from mid-summer to fall. Petals are lightly ruffled along the margin and gracefully curve back. Low-growing ‘Fragrant Returns’ is perfect for containers and the front of borders. These plants stand up to high heat and humidity in full sun to part shade gardens. (Hemerocallis hybrid)Learn MoreEarly to bloom and easy to care for, 'Stella D'Oro' Reblooming Daylily is a compact plant and a great choice for edging the front of the garden. Rich, golden yellow blooms come in st...
Learn MoreStella D'Oro Reblooming Daylily Reblooming Daylily Stella D'Oro Hemerocallis Stella D'OroAs low as $19.98 Sale $11.99Per Bag of 3Early to bloom and easy to care for, 'Stella D'Oro' Reblooming Daylily is a compact plant and a great choice for edging the front of the garden. Rich, golden yellow blooms come in strong in early to mid summer, and a reblooming habit brings them on again later in the season. Fragrant. (Hemerocallis)Learn MoreFull of personality, 'Frosted Vintage Ruffles' Reblooming Daylily will grace any cottage garden or blousy border with vintage charm and prolific blooming. Large flowers are c...
Learn MoreFrosted Vintage Ruffles Daylily Frosted Vintage Ruffles Daylily Hemerocallis Frosted Vintage Ruffles$15.98 Sale $9.99Per Bag of 1Full of personality, 'Frosted Vintage Ruffles' Reblooming Daylily will grace any cottage garden or blousy border with vintage charm and prolific blooming. Large flowers are cream-colored with yellow-green throats and a ruffled pink margin. This reliable reblooming variety combines a compact habit with beautifully formed flowers, earning an Honorable Mention in 2008 by the American Hemerocallis Society. (Hemerocallis)Learn More'Lacy Doily' Reblooming Daylily's unique, double peach flowers are a must-have for any perennial garden. This super bloomer will provide 500 fragrant flowers after several seasons in...
Learn MoreLacy Doily Reblooming Daylily Reblooming Daylily Lacy Doily Hemerocallis Lacy Doily$23.98 Sale $13.99Per Bag of 1'Lacy Doily' Reblooming Daylily's unique, double peach flowers are a must-have for any perennial garden. This super bloomer will provide 500 fragrant flowers after several seasons in your garden. The perfect choice for any sunny landscape, this daylily is extremely easy to grow and requires little water. Deer resistant and low maintenance. (Hemerocallis)Learn More
About the Author: Judith Irven is an accomplished Vermont landscape designer and garden writer, and she delights in helping people everywhere create beautiful gardens. You can visit her online at: OutdoorSpacesVermont.com.