Daylilies are a reliable and popular perennial that produces scores of colorful flowers in summer.
What began as a plant with simple yellow or red flowers has changed drastically through years of breeding.
More than just the color palette has expanded over the years.
Credit: Mike Moreland
Many daylilies also boast a pleasant fragrance, especially varieties thatbloom at night.
Where to Plant Daylily
Daylily can be planted in almost any location with full or partial sun.
How and When to Plant Daylily
Daylily is sold as bare root or potted plants.
Credit: Mike Moreland
The best time to plant them is in early fall.
The way to plant both bare-root and potted daylily is the same.
Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root system.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Place thecontainer-grown plantin the hole and backfill with soil.
Water deeply and slowly, keeping the plants well-watered during the first growing season.
Spacing depends on the bang out.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Daylily Care Tips
Light
Daylilyprefers full sunbut can tolerate part-sun conditions.
Some varieties with showier blooms may wash out in full sun conditions and should be sited accordingly.
Ideally, they’replanted in well-drained soilwith a good amount of organic matter.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Newly planted daylilies appreciate regular watering, especially when they’re blooming.
Good drainage is also essential; when these plants stay too wet, their fleshy roots can rot.
Temperature and Humidity
Daylily can be grown in a wide range of climates.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
They arewinter-hardyin subzero weather and heat-tolerant of hot weather.
They are also unbothered by high humidity and dry weather.
Pruning
During the growing season,remove yellow or dead leavesfor a neater appearance.
Credit: Marilyn Stouffer
Soon after the bloom ends, cut the flower stalk back to about 4 inches off the ground.
Potting and Repotting Daylily
Choose a containerwith ample drainage holes to grow daylily in pots.
Choose a pot at least 4 inches larger in diameter and use fresh potting mix.
Credit: Tom McWilliam
Pests and Problems
Daylily is resistant to most pests and diseases, but a few cause trouble.
The daylily aphid, usually found during cool seasons and hides within the fans, feeds only on daylilies.
Another common pestthe spider miteis most active during hot, dry weather.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Both types of insects can be somewhat controlled by blasting them off plants with a jet of water.
Horticultural soaps and oils also can help control pests.
Daylily is also plagued by daylily rust.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Prevent daylily rust by choosingdisease-resistant varietiesand spacing the plants so they get good airflow.
Do this in the late fall after the growing season or early spring before the growth cycle begins.
Dig up the daylilywith its entire root system.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Gently shake it to remove dirt from the roots and cut the roots into smaller sections.
Discard any damaged or diseased roots and replant the section in a new location.
It grows up to 3 feet tall.
Credit: Tim Murphy
This small variety only gets 18 inches tall.
Zones 4-10
‘Bright Sunset’ Daylily
Hemerocallis’Bright Sunset' offers fragrant copper-orange flowers brushed with golden yellow.
This daylily grows up to 3 feet tall.
The daylily height grows to 4 feet tall.
The daylily height grows to 3 feet tall.
Zones 4-10
‘Stella d’Oro’ Daylily
Hemerocallis’Stella d’Oro' is a very popular variety.
It reblooms freely from midseason on with single brilliant gold flowers that are slightly fragrant.
This tough plant grows only a foot or so tall.
Zones 3-9
Daylily Companion Plants
Ligularia
Add a little sunshine to your gardenwith imposing ligularia.
Its golden flower spikes or flattened heads of yellow daisy-like flowers shine brightly in the sun or part shade.
The bold leaves are kidney-shaped or jagged along the edges.
Position ligularia so it has a little shade during the heat of the day.
Many of the best cultivars are hybrids.
All are excellent for cutting.
Deadhead to extend bloom time and divide the clumps every couple of years to ensure vigor.
Yarrow
Yarrow is one of those plants thatgive a wildflower look to any garden.
In fact, it is indeed a native plant, and predictably, it’s easy to care for.
Its colorful, flat-top blooms rise above clusters of ferny foliage.
No, the common orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) is native to Asia.
