Daylily

Hemerocallis fulva is the wild strain with orange flowers. It is exceptionally suited to naturalizing in open spaces.

Dig individual holes several inches wider than the root system and at least 12 inches deep. The soil should be worked into a friable condition before replacing it around the roots. Construct a cone-like mound of soil in the bottom middle of the planting hole. Set the plant with roots spread over the top of the mound and trailing downward. Adjust the height of the mound so the plant sits as deep as it grew originally.

Daylilies grow better when fertilized. They respond to a fertilizer analysis containing a moderate amount of nitrogen and high rates of phosphorous and potash. Analyses such as 5-10-15 and 6-12-12 supply such requirements. The first application is applied in the early spring just as new growth commences. A rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet of area is suggested. A second application during the growing season is recommended; however, there is no research to substantiate the exact timing of the second application. Most daylily growers make a second application of fertilizer during midsummer using the 2 pound rate per 100 square feet.

There seems to be much improved germination of sprouting daylily seeds when they are soaked in a 1 ounce solution of house-hold hydrogen peroxide mixed into 2 liters of water. Keep seeds and soaking solution out of reach of children and pets. Never allow sprouting seeds to dry out. That is a sure-fire way to bring germination percentages down to zero! This is one of the problems of using small compartment seed sprouting trays.

Leave the seeds in the solution until they just start to sprout. That may take a while for some seeds. A small white rootlet will begin forming at the end of the seed. When one or two seeds show this white rootlet, plant all the soaking seeds in that container. Don’t wait for all the seeds of a given cross to sprout before planting. If left soaking too long, the rootlets will turn to mush. Some are seeds are slower to sprout than others. After a week, or ten days, it is best to plant the seeds whether or not they have begin to sprout and hope for the best. Soft seeds can be rejected as they will not sprout and take up planting room.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Daylily about 42 days before your last frost date .

Transplants may not bloom well the first year.
Prefers full sun to light shade. Blooms in full sun may exhibit a tendency to fade. If this happens, move the plants to a spot that receives some afternoon shade.
Propagate by division when well established (about 5 years) in early spring, summer after flowers fade or mid-fall.

² Both the young spring foliage and the flower buds may be added to soups or salads or eaten as a vegetable.

Daylilies are very easy to gather seeds from. Allow the flowers to fade and drop naturally. If the flower was fertilized a green seed pod will develop where the flower was attached to the stem. Not all daylilies will be fertile and so some plants may never produce seeds. Nor will all flowers of fertile daylilies produce seeds. Some varieties will produce more seeds pods than others.
Allow the developing green pod to swell and grow. When the seeds are near maturity the pod will begin to wither and brown. When the seeds are ripe the pod will open at the end to disperse the seeds. At this stage the pod can be removed from the stem. Place the pod on a plate and allow it to dry for a few days.
To remove the seeds split the pod open along its seams and gently nudge the seeds out. The seeds are roundish and a shiny black. Depending upon the variety seed size can be between an 1/8 and 1/4 inch wide. Daylily seeds are thick and should dry for a few more days before being packed. ⁴

These plants have been known to grow well alongside Daylily so consider planting:

• Daylily likes Sweet scabious

• Daylily likes Hybrid Lily

• Daylily likes Winter iris

• Daylily likes Purple-flowered onion

• Daylily likes Persian Buttercup

• Daylily likes Common snowdrop

• Daylily likes Spring Starflower

• Daylily likes Tulipa

These plants will not grow well with Daylily so avoid planting these within close proximity:

These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Daylily plants:

Puccinia hemerocallidis (daylily rust), is transferred by windblown spores. Purchased plants may be infected without showing signs of the disease, so new plants should be isolated from existing plantings until the gardener is sure they are clean. Fungicide or disinfectant treatment prior to shipping may not guarantee a clean plant. The disease’s alternate host is Patrinia. ¹

The flowers of the genus hemerocallis are open for but one day. Hence, the name daylily. Newer hybrids may have extended and repeat blooming times.

The first written record about the daylily is about 2697 B.C. when Emperor Huan Ti arranged for a Materia Medica to be written for him by Chi Pai. Daylilies were used as food at that time. They were thought to benefit the mind and strengthen willpower. The plants grew wild in the woods and were moved to the garden for use at the table.

Hemerocallis

Hemerocallis L.

Misspellings: Daylillies, Day Lillies, Dayliliy, Dayllily, Hemoracallis, Heremicullis

Our when to plant Daylily estimates are relative to your last frost date. Enter your frost dates and we'll calculate your sowing and planting dates for you!

¹ AHS daylily website

² “Having your flowers and eating them too” http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-04-09/home-and-garden/17368884_1_daylily-blossoms-soups-harvest

³ http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants/day_lilies.aspx

⁴ http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/daylily_seeds.html