The daylily is an interesting 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:
Lake of Fire
Hemerocallis ‘Lake of Fire’
Lake of Fire Daylilies feature enormous 7” apricot orange flowers with eruptions of red along the eye and yellow and orange mixed in the swirling edges. This taller variety will look beautiful in the middle of any sunny garden bed with its attractive grassy foliage supplying a backdrop for other shorter plants.
- Height: 24”
- Width: 18-24”
- Water: Moderate-Low
- Bloom: Apricot, Red/ Midsummer
- Zones: 3-9
Born to Run
Hemerocallis ‘Born to Run’
The reblooming Born to Run Daylily is quite striking! It has bright red petals with ruffled yellow ‘petticoats’ and a green eye with a light pink halo.
- Height: 28”
- Width: 18-24”
- Water: Moderate-Low
- Bloom: Red, Yellow, Green/ Mid-Late Summer
- Zones: 3-9
Bela Lugosi
Hemerocallis ‘Bela Lugosi’
Bela Lugosi is a large, strong growing 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:
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Purple/ Summer
- Zones: 5
Originally published on July 3rd, 2018. Updated on June 30th, 2023.