ABOUT DAYLILIES

What is a Daylily?

Repeat after me, a Daylily is not a Lily. A Daylily is not a bulb. It is a perennial plant with a fibrous root system. Hemerocallis comes from the Greek and means 'Beauty for a Day'. While each bloom lasts for only one day, the number of buds on each flower scape will keep you in blooms for weeks and with the number of cultivars which bloom at various times, you can enjoy their flowers all season long.

Cultivation Requirements:

Daylilies will do quite well in any good garden soil and prefer a pH in the 5.5 to 7 range. The soil should be worked to a depth of at least 12 inches. It should be moisture retentive but not remain soggy. While Daylilies are 'heavy feeders', it is best to start with a soil of medium fertility and top dress with compost or a 5-10-10 fertilizer in the Spring and late Fall. (too much nitrogen will result in lots of foliage at the expense of blooms.).

They can get by on 6 hours of direct sun per day, but the more sun the better. Some of the darker reds and purples do benefit from shade during the hottest part of the day. Daylilies have fleshy roots making them drought tolerant, but they will reward you with many more blooms if they are supplied with adequate water during bud formation and bloom. If you do not have access to adequate water during the summer then mulching will go a long way towards conserving soil moisture.

Planting:

Daylilies can be planted at any time from early May until late September. Dig the planting hole large enough to accommodate the roots fully spread out; make a mound in the center of the hole, place the, plant on this spreading the roots out and down. Water them in well, if possible with one of the liquid fertilizers with a rooting hormone in it (like 'Plant Start'). Cover the roots with soil to a depth not greater than 2" above the crown (the point where the roots meet the base of the plant). If the plant is buried too deeply it may not bloom. Make sure the soil is well packed around the roots so that the plant does not sink into the ground as the soil settles. Water well and keep them well supplied with moisture until new growth starts and they are established.

Daylilies can be left in place for years, so allow at least 24 inches of space around each plant. They can be planted more closely together if you want the space to fill in quickly, but may need to be divided sooner. While most plants will bloom ft first year, they will not really reach their full potential until the second year.

What To Do When Your Plants Arrive

There is much debate about how best to get your plants off to a good start. My advice is to get them in the ground as soon as possible, preferably the day they arrive. If you are unable to plant them for a few days place the box in a cool, shady spot or heel them into the garden. You may, if you wish, soak them for an hour or so before planting, but do not leave them sitting in water for days.