The daylily is a fascinating perennial plant that takes its name from its edible flowers which typically last just one day, opening in early morning and withering that evening. Each day the flower is replaced by a new bloom from one of the numerous buds on each stalk and one of abundant stocks in each clump of plants.
Daylilies are low maintenance, easy to grow, long-lived and will bloom reliably for years with very little attention. The plants grow quickly in sun or shade, and are rarely bothered by insect pests or disease. Daylilies are not picky about soil and will grow in places that are too wet or too dry for other perennials. That said, daylilies perform best in fertile well-drained soil.
Daylilies come in a rainbow of colors and bloom from midsummer to early fall with new blossoms opening each day. They are well-suited to many different uses in the garden and landscape including perennial borders and along fences and pathways. They pair nicely with ornamental grasses and small shrubs in group plantings and their lush foliage makes for a good backdrop for other flowers when not in bloom.
Here are some great varieties to check out next time you visit us:
Jolyene Nichole
Merocallis ‘Jolyene Nichole’
Jolyene Nichole daylilies feature large, bubble-gum pink, ruffled flowers with a lemon yellow throat. Each flower stays open for up to 16 hours! The foliage is dark green and grass-like, growing in a compact and mounding habit. Jolyene Nichole is a lovely rebloomer.
- Height: 12”-18”
- Width: 18”-24”
- Water: Average – High
- Bloom: Pink/ Summer
- Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Desert Flame
Hemerocallis ‘Desert Flame’
Desert Flame will set your gardens ablaze with the large 5 ½”, flaming red-orange blossoms. This daylily produces beautifully ruffled flowers with a lime green throat and orange stamens. Desert Flame is a rebloomer that blooms first in midseason and then again later in fall. This is a taller daylily with very strong well-budded and branched flower stalks and foliage that looks sharp all season long.
- Height: 36”
- Width: 18”-24”
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Orange/ Summer
- Zones: 4
Bela Lugosi
Hemerocallis ‘Bela Lugosi’
Bela Lugosi is a large vigorous daylily featuring slightly ruffled 6” purple flowers with lime green throats. It is a well branched and heavily budded plant and widely regarded as one of the best purple flowering daylilies on the market.
- Height: 33”
- Width: 20” – 24”
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Purple/ Summer
- Zones: 5
Originally published on July 3rd, 2018. Updated on July 1st, 2025.