Daylily Care Must-Knows
Daylilies are super easy to grow; they can often be found growing along the side of the road (often called “ditch weeds”). With their thick, fleshy roots and vigorous growth habit, daylilies are able to tolerate many different soil conditions. Ideally, they’re planted in well-drained soil with a decent amount of organic matter. Newly planted daylilies appreciate regular watering, especially when they’re blooming. Good drainage is also important; when these plants stay too wet, their fleshy roots can rot. Daylilies prefer full sun but can tolerate part-sun conditions. Once established, they are very drought-tolerant. Some varieties with showier blooms may wash out in full sun conditions and should be sited accordingly. Because they grow quickly, daylilies should be divided when necessary. The best time to divide them is in late fall after the growing season, or early spring before the growth cycle begins. Simply dig up a daylily and separate the fans to divide the plant. Because they handle division well, daylilies are easy to share with friends and neighbors. (Think of the savings: Some new cultivars can cost anywhere from $300 to $500 for a single fan!)
Pests and Diseases
Daylilies are resistant to most pests and diseases, but a few do cause trouble. The daylily aphid, which is usually found during cool seasons and hides within the fans, feeds only on daylilies. Another common pest—the spider mite—is most active during hot, dry weather. 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. Daylilies are also plagued by daylily rust. This pesky fungus causes orange-yellow powdery spots that resemble rust to cover the undersides of the leaves and scapes (flower stalks without leaves). Prevent daylily rust by choosing disease-resistant varieties and spacing the plants so they get good airflow.
New Daylily Innovations
Today’s breeders are focusing on developing new flower shapes and color markings. Diamond dusting, for example, makes flowers sparkle in the sunlight. Breeders are also trying to develop additional reblooming varieties for multiseason interest. Because new daylily varieties often come from home breeders, it can take many years for new plants to become accessible to the general public.
More Varieties of Daylily
‘Apple Tart’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Apple Tart’ is a repeat bloomer that opens in the late afternoon with single bright red flowers accented with yellow stripes. The daylily height grows to 3 feet tall. Zones 3-9.
‘Little Grapette’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Little Grapette’ has single miniature flowers the color of grape juice with a greenish-yellow eye open in the late afternoon. The daylily height grows to 18 inches tall. Zones 4-10.
‘Bright Sunset’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Bright Sunset’ offers fragrant copper-orange flowers brushed with golden yellow. Zones 3-9.
‘Catherine Woodbury’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Catherine Woodbury’ is a classic with fragrant large flowers of clear pale pink. The daylily height grows to 3 feet tall. Zones 3-9.
‘Hyperion’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion’ has very fragrant, large lemon-yellow single flowers that open toward evening. The daylily height grows to 4 feet tall. Zones 3-9.
‘Mary Todd’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Mary Todd’ is an old cultivar that blooms early with large, bright yellow flowers. The daylily height grows to 3 feet tall. Zones 4-10.
‘Stella d’Oro’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Stella d’Oro’ is an extremely 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.
‘Strawberry Candy’ daylily
Hemerocallis ‘Strawberry Candy’ has thick pink petals with a soft ruffled edge have a darker ring in the center along with a bright yellow throat. Rebloomer. Zones 3-9.
Daylily Companion Plants
Ligularia
Add a little sunshine to your garden with imposing ligularia. Its golden flower spikes or flattened heads of yellow daisylike flowers shine brightly in sun or part shade. The bold leaves are kidney-shape or jagged along the edges. These moisture lovers do beautifully at the edges of ponds and streams, and they must have deep, rich soil that remains moist. Position ligularia so it has a little shade during the heat of the day.
Helenium
Long-blooming helenium lights up the late-season garden with showy daisy flowers in brilliant yellows, browns, and mahogany, centered with prominent yellow or brown discs. 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 that give a wildflower look to any garden. In fact, it is indeed a native plant and, predictably, it’s easy to care for. In some gardens, it will thrive with almost no care, making it a good candidate for naturalistic plantings in open areas and along the edges of wooded or other wild places. Its colorful, flat-top blooms rise above clusters of ferny foliage. The tough plants resist drought, are rarely eaten by deer and rabbits, and spread moderately quickly, making yarrow a good choice for massing in borders or as a groundcover. If deadheaded after its first flush of blooms fade, yarrow will rebloom. If left to dry on the plant, flower clusters of some types provide winter interest. Flowers of yarrow are excellent either in fresh or dried arrangements.
