Guide to Growing Daylilies

Daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids) are strong, trouble-free and long-lived perennials. In addition to the familiar orange and yellow flowers colors, varieties are available with red, pink, apricot, gold, and bicolor flowers. Each flower lasts for only about one day (hence the name "Daylily"), but each plant produces many flowers over a period of several or more weeks. Most Daylilies bloom in early, mid or late summer, depending on variety. The compact-growing Daylily, 'Stella D'Oro', is an exception and continues blooming through summer to frost.

Their abundant flowers and the handsome texture of their arching, strap-shaping leaves make Daylilies one of our most valued and versatile perennials. Daylilies are most effective when massed (in groups of six or more) to form a thick, lush specimen clump to provide color and texture for a perennial border, or at the edge of a stream or pond. Plant several varieties together for blooms all summer (e.g., early, mid late varieties) or for a range of colors.

Plant Daylilies in a sunny or partly sunny location (at least 1/2 day sunlight). Remove any grass or weeds from the plant bed, and then mix soil with Peat Moss or Compost and Bulbtone (4-10-6) Fertilizer. Space plants 12" apart within the bed clumps or plant in two or more staggered rows. (Tip: To remove plants from the container, place one hand on top of the soil to support rootball, invert the container, and gently tap. The plant should slide out fairly easy). Dig holes twice the width of the plant container, and set plants so that the depth of the roots in the soil is the same as their original depth in the container. Keep the crown (base of the stem) at its original soil level. Fill the remainder of the hole with the soil mixture, and tamp firmly with hands. Water gently and thoroughly after planting, and regularly thereafter (once or twice per week). Spread a 2" layer of Pine Bark Mulch in the bed to conserve moisture and discourage weed growth. Your Daylilies should grow and spread to form a solid, vigorous clump or bed.

Very easy. Each year, topdress bed with additional mulch as required. For best results, feed Daylilies lightly in spring and gall with Bulbtone (4-10-6) or 5-10-5 Fertilizer. After frost, leave the dead foliage to provide additional winter mulch. In colder locations, mulch lightly with Salt Hay. Remove dead foliage and Salt hay mulch in spring, to allow new growth to develop.

• Peat Moss or Compost
• Bulbtone or 5-10-5 Fertilizer
• Pine Bark or Salt Hay Mulch

• Handfork
• Garden Spade
• Trowel

• All About Perennials (Ortho Books)
• The Color Encyclopedia of Daylilies (Timber Press)