Transcript Daylilies 101 - Browns Ferry Gardens

DAYLILIES 101
Everything you wanted to know about Daylilies,
But were afraid to ask!
Why is it called a daylily?
Why is it called a daylily?
The bloom only lasts one day.
Why is it called a daylily?
HEMEROCALLIS
The scientific name for the daylily. (From the Greek hemera day + kallos beauty). Originally the genus
Hemerocallis was placed in the lily family, Liliaceae, but more recently it has been moved to the family
Hemerocallidaceae.
DAYLILY
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Plants of the genus Hemerocallis, family Hemerocallidaceae. Some older references may still include
Hemerocallis in the lily family, Liliaceae.
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Generally, a single daylily bud is in bloom for a single day before it begins to wither. Multiple buds on the
scapes provide bloom over a number of weeks each bloom season.
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Ancient Chinese used the plant's roots, leaves and flowers for food. They also used its roots and crown as
a pain reliever, a diuretic and for other medicinal purposes.
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Its botanical name, Hemerocallis, derives from two Greek words meaning "beauty" and "day," referring to
the fact that each flower lasts only one day.
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In some dictionaries and other reference works, this plant may be referred to as "day lily," but the spelling
was consolidated into a single word in 1923 upon the recommendation of the American Joint Committee
on Horticultural Nomenclature, as reported by the publication Standardized Plant Names, 1923 edition,
Preface, p. x and p. 199.
Why is the daylily a perfect
perennial?
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Available in a rainbow of colors, a variety of shapes,
heights and sizes. There are currently over 60,000
varieties registered with the AHS
Able to survive with very little care in a wide range of
climates
Suitable for all types of landscapes
Adaptable to various soil and light conditions
Known to bloom from late spring until autumn
Where did the daylily originate?
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The genus Hemerocallis is native to Asia.
Since the early 1930s, hybridizers in the United
States and England have made great improvements
in daylilies.
Originally, the only colors were yellow, orange, and
fulvous red.
Today, we have colors ranging from near-whites,
pastels, yellows, oranges, pinks, vivid reds, crimson,
purple, nearly true-blue, and fabulous blends.
Where did the daylily originate?
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Many people are familiar with only the common
yellow or orange daylilies which are often seen along
roadsides.
These daylilies are cultivated forms of the wild types
of daylilies which have "escaped" and are growing
as if they are wild.
All the modern daylilies have been developed
through a complicated history of hybridization among
these and other wild types.
What are the parts of a daylily?
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The daylily can be characterized as a clump-forming,
herbaceous perennial with fibrous or somewhat
tuberous roots. The daylily has four fairly distinct
growing parts.
What are the parts of a daylily?
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Roots The roots of a daylily are long, slender, and
fibrous. Or, they may be enlarged into spindleshaped tubers with additional roots at their bases.
The roots absorb water and minerals for use by the
plant, and serve as storehouses for food produced
by the leaves.
What are the parts of a daylily?
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Crown The crown of a daylily is the stem of the
daylily plant. It is the solid white core located
between the leaves and the roots. The crown
produces leaves and scapes from its upper surface.
The roots are produced from its sides and lower
surface.
What are the parts of a daylily?
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Leaves The leaves of daylilies are long, slender, and
grass-like. They have a prominent center rib on the
underside. The leaves are arranged opposite each
other on the crown, giving a flattened appearance
which causes the plant to be referred to as a "fan."
Multiple fans of a single plant form a "clump.“
What are the parts of a daylily?
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Scape The scape of a daylily is a leafless stalk
which bears the flowers. Most have two or more
branches, each bearing several flower buds. Below
the branches, the stalks have a few leaf-like "bracts."
Sometimes, a small plantlet grows at the junction of
a bract and the scape. This is called a "proliferation"
and can be rooted to produce another plant.
Parts of a Daylily
http://www.daylilies.org/
ahs_dictionary/dictionary.html
What are the different ways of
reproducing a daylily?
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Fans Multiplying (identical to the parent)
group of 3 or more fans together.
A clump is a
What are the different ways of
reproducing a daylily?
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Proliferation (identical to the parent)
What are the different ways of
reproducing a daylily?
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Hybridizing (Seed Pod) (not identical to the parent, a
combination of chromosomes from each parent produces a
different plant)
What are the different types of
foliage?
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Dormant
Semi Evergreen
Evergreen
All daylilies, regardless of foliage habit, are capable
of cold temperature dormancy in the technical sense
where it gets cold enough to suspend growth.
What are the different types of
foliage?
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The cold-hardiness of daylilies is quite
variable. Some are iron-clad hardy. Others
are extremely tender. Cold-hardiness is not
determined by the foliage habit. Evergreen,
dormant, and semi-evergreen can be
anything from extremely cold-hardy to
extremely tender. To avoid risk of losing a
cultivar, choose daylilies which others have
already grown successfully in your climate.
What are the different types of
foliage?
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Garden with all foliage types
What are the different types of
foliage?
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the term "dormant" refers to daylilies that lose their foliage completely before or
shortly after frost and over-winter with pointed foliage buds, usually just
beneath the soil surface. Dormants will resume growth in spring.
What are the different types of
foliage?
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Semi Evergreen is intermediate foliage behavior that is not adequately described as simply
DORMANT or EVERGREEN.
What are the different types of
foliage?
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The foliage habit of daylilies that retain their foliage throughout the year. In cold winter
climates, evergreen daylilies over-winter as a mound of frozen pale green foliage.
Evergreens may resume growth during a mid-winter thaw in mild climates. Evergreen
daylilies do not set resting buds.
What are the different ploidy?
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Plants all have a basic complement of chromosomes. Most
plants are diploid. they have two identical sets of chromosomes
in each cell. Polyploids are plants with more than two sets of
chromosomes. A tetraploid is only one of a whole series of
polyploids. Triploids have three sets of chromosomes,
tetraploids have four sets of chromosomes, et cetera.
What are the different ploidy?
Tetraploid – Having four sets of chromosomes in each cell of
the plant (in daylilies, 44 chromosomes altogether.) That is
twice the number found in the sex cells (sperm and egg)
Tetraploid daylilies are heralded by some growers as having a
number of advantages over diploids. In the tetraploid:
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Flowers tend to be larger.
Colors of the flower tend to be more intense.
Scapes tend to be sturdier and stronger.
Substance of both flower and foliage tend to be heavier.
Vegetative vigor in leaf, stem, and flower tend to be greater.
Breeding possibilities tend to be greater because of an increased
number of chromosomes
What are the different ploidy?
Diploid – A plant having two complete sets of the basic set of
chromosomes. A diploid daylily has 22 chromosomes. One set
of 11 comes from the egg cell, one set from the sperm cell in
the pollen.
Diploid daylilies continue to charm growers with their exquisite
flower form, grace, and color. Good pink daylilies are still more
prevalent in the diploid ranks.
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Spider and double daylilies are still more prevalent in the diploid ranks.
Diploid daylilies are easier to cross than tetraploids.
Many diploid daylilies have been converted to tetraploids, thus
advancing the tetraploid lines.
There are more diploids than tetraploids.
What is the blooming sequence?
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EE - Extra Early
E - Early
EM - Early Mid
M - Mid
ML - Mid Late
L – Late
VL – Very Late
Peak – 1st or 2nd week in June in South
Carolina
What are the Characteristics of a
Daylily?
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Reblooms -
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Fragrant -
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Nocturnal -
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Extended Bloom - Flowers that remain open 16 hours or more
Height – The height of the scape
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Having more than one cycle of flowering per year.
have a very light pleasing scent. Some cultivars are more
heavily scented than others. Scent may vary with the time of the day and
weather conditions
A flower that opens sometime after late day and remains
open during the night and perhaps all or part of the following day (in which case
it may also be an EXTENDED bloomer.)
What are the Characteristics of a
Daylily?
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Bloom Size is used for classification at AHS
Exhibition shows.
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Miniature is less than 3” in diameter
Small is more than 3” but less than 4 ½”
Large is more than 4 ½” and less than 7”
Extra Large is more than 7”
What are the Characteristics of a
Daylily?
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Branching - Used to describe
daylily scapes that have lateral
branchlets, each containing a cluster of
buds. Three-way branching may
describe a scape with three branchlets,
but is used by some hybridizers to
indicate there are three side branches
as well as a cluster of blooms at the top
of the scape. One way to signify this is
"3-4 way branching", indicating 3
laterals and one terminal cluster of
buds.
What are the Characteristics of a
Daylily?
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Bud Count - Since each
daylily flower is only open one day, the
number of buds each scape carries is
indicative of how many flowers the
plant will bear on a single scape. The
bud count can be determined by
counting the number of buds, seed
pods and bloom scars and adding
these together.
COLOR and PATTERNS
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Modern hybrid daylilies have a remarkably
diverse color range, especially considering
that the wild types from which they have
been bred were only in shades of yellow,
orange, fulvous and rosy-fulvous. Today, the
only colors notably lacking are pure white
and pure blue. Needless to say, hybridizers
are avidly pursuing these two colors.
COLOR and PATTERNS
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Basic Flower Color
The outer portion of the daylily flower is
considered to be the basic color of the
flower. The present daylily color range
includes:
COLOR and PATTERNS
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Yellow all shades from the palest lemon,
through bright yellow and gold, to orange.
Red diverse shades of scarlet, carmine,
tomato-red, maroon, wine-reds, and
blackish-reds.
Pink from pale pink through rose-pink to
rose-red.
COLOR and PATTERNS
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Purple from pale lavender and lilac to deep
grape or violet.
Melon or Cream-Pink from palest cream
shades to deep cantaloupe shades.
Notes: Buff, Brown, Apricot, and Peach are
thought to be variations of pink plus yellow.
Near-whites are found among the palest tints
of yellow, pink, lavender, or melon.
COLOR and PATTERNS
 Throat Color
The center area of the daylily flower is called the throat.
In most daylilies, the throat color
differs from the rest of the flower.
Usually it is a shade of green,
yellow, gold, orange, apricot,
or melon.
COLOR and PATTERNS
 Stamen Color
Like the throat, the stamens may be a
different color from the basic flower
color and the throat color.
Or, the stamens may be of matching
color. Usually they are light yellow
to greenish. The anthers at the tips
of the stamens are often
darker in color sometimes black.
Self –
COLOR and PATTERNS
A flower having perianth segments all of the same color. The throat
region can be a different color. In a complete self the segments, throat, pistil and
stamens will all be the same color
Neon
Sunshine
COLOR and PATTERNS
Blend – Flower with an intermingling of two or more colors
Diva Bride
COLOR and PATTERNS
Polychrome –
Flowers blending and intermingling many colors
without distinct bands.
Dancing
With Dixie
COLOR and PATTERNS
Bitone – A flower with inner and outer segments of different tints of the same basic
color. A bitone has lighter outer segments (sepals) and darker inner segments (petals).
Browns Ferry
Firecracker
COLOR and PATTERNS
Reverse Bitone –
segments of a darker color.
Concorde
Nelson
Flower with lighter inner segments and outer
COLOR and PATTERNS
Bicolor – A daylily flower whose petal segments are of a completely different color
than its sepal segments
Old King
Cole
COLOR and PATTERNS
Reverse Bicolor –
A daylily flower whose petal segments are of a
completely different color than its sepal segments
Crackling
Fire
Eyed –
COLOR and PATTERNS
The zone of a different color occurs on both petal & sepal
Womanizer
Band –
COLOR and PATTERNS
The zone of a different color occurs only on the petals
Ashley Danielle
COLOR and PATTERNS
Halo -
The zone of a different color is faint or only lightly visible
MeMe’s
Sunshine
COLOR and PATTERNS
Watermark - The zone of a different color is lighter shade than the rest of
the flower
The Color of
Wonderful
COLOR and PATTERNS
Edged – Distinctly different color occurring along the outer edge of the segments
of a daylily.
Windsor
Plantation
COLOR and PATTERNS
Edges – Edges can be structural, i.e. have knobs, braids, tentacles, fringe, and
teeth.
Interview with
a Vampire
COLOR and PATTERNS
Picotee
– A specific type of edge on a flower, where the edge is of a different color than that of the flower's base
color. Picotees can have borders or margins which are lighter or darker, but they should be of a contrasting color, i.e., white edge
on a red flower or red edge on an eyed flower. The only criterion is that the edge be of a contrasting color as the base of the flower;
it can sometimes take bizarre shapes as well as hooks, horns, teeth, bubbles, braids, or fringe. All picotees are edges, but not all
edges are picotees. All picotees are picoteed edges.
Clear Horizons
COLOR and PATTERNS
Veining - A color pattern on the floral segments in which the base color and the
veins within these tepals are of a contrasting color.
Mapping
Carolina
Midrib –
COLOR and PATTERNS
The principal lengthwise vein of a leaf or of a perianth segment (petals
and sepals). On the perianth segments the midribs may be the same color as the segment or
of a contrasting color as in the sample photo.
Chick Flick
COLOR and PATTERNS
Patterned –
A daylily that exhibits variations in hue, value, or saturation of the base, midrib, or
throat color, in such a way that a design is created beyond that of a bold or solid eye, band, halo or watermark, with or
without simple picotee edging. This type of "patterning" includes, but is not limited to, daylilies with concentric rings or
feathering of color within the eyezone or elsewhere. It excludes selfs, simple bitones, and simple bicolors.
Ribbons of
Color
COLOR and PATTERNS
Appliquéd –
The term "applique" comes from the French word for "apply", and in art refers to
one material applied to the surface of another. Hybridizer Bill Munson used the term to describe throats in daylilies such as
Hemerocallis 'Chinese Temple Flower' (Munson-I. 1980). An appliqued throat has the appearance of being raised and applied
or painted onto the surface color(s) of the tepals. The applique can be variable over time and location.
Hope Floats
COLOR and PATTERNS
Diamond Dusted –
Flowers having structures that produce a glitter-like quality on
the petal surface. When the sparkles appear white, it is referred to as diamond dusting. Some reference works also recognize the
fact that some of these reflections on yellow cultivars appear to be gold and yellow - these are called gold dusted
What are the different forms of a
daylily?
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Single
Double
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Spider
Unusual Form
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Polymerous
Sculpted
Peony
Hose in Hose
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Crispates
Cascades
Spatulates
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Pleated
Cristate
Relief
What are the subforms of a daylily?
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Circular
Triangular
Star
Informal
Flat
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Recurved
Trumpet
SINGLE -
Daylily flowers that have three petals, three sepals, six stamens
and one pistil (comprised of three carpels) are known as "single" daylilies.
Muriel Rhem
DOUBLE -
"Peony type" doubles have petaloid (petal-like) stamens
inside the normal petal whorl. Carpels may also be petaloid
Amy’s Seeing
Double
DOUBLE -
"Hose-in-Hose" doubles have extra whorls (layers) of petals
so that there appears to be a flower within a flower
Double Layer
SPIDER -
A flower whose petal length is four times the petal's width or
more, a ratio of 4.0:1 or greater.
SkinWalker
UNUSUAL FORM – Crispate
Crispates may contain pinched segments, twisting segments, or quilling on one or more
segments.
Fire Arrow
UNUSUAL FORM – Cascade
A "cascade" refers to a small, steep waterfall or something resembling it. The cascade
form may include cascading or curling of segments.
Papa Goose
UNUSUAL FORM – Spatulate
Floral segments are markedly wider at the end, resembling a kitchen spatula.
Maximilian
Kobe
POLYMEROUS -
Polymerous is an adjective used to designate a
daylily with more than the normal number of segments in each floral whorl, i.e., more than the normal
three sepals (usually four or five) in the outer whorl and more than three petals (usually the same
number as sepals) in the inner whorl.
Carolina
Flying
PolyPossum
SCULPTED – Pleated
Petals that have a deep longitudinal crease on each side of the midrib. These creases cause folding of
the petal upon itself creating a raised platform extending from the top of the perianth tube and ending
between the throat and the petal tip.
Fad Gadget
SCULPTED – Cristate
A term that refers to appendages of extra petal tissue growing from the midrib or elsewhere on the
surface of the petals. When the extra tissue grows from the midribs, the form is called “Midrib Cristate”.
Texas
Feathered
Fancy
SCULPTED – Relief
The relief forms are characterized by vertically raised ridges that extend from the throat and project from
the petal surface. The ridges may grow parallel to the veins, or they may radiate outwards from each
side of the midrib.
Williamsburg
County
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
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When purchasing a daylily, consider foliage,
vigor and stamina, scapes, branching and
buds, and flower substance.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Foliage
Variation in foliage is important for contrast in color and
texture in the total garden picture. Consider the
following:
 Foliage is best judged when you are not unduly
influenced by the beauty of flower.
 Foliage must have an attractive appearance.
 Foliage should be of a type that is compatible with
your climate.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Vigor and Stamina
As to vigor and stamina, the daylily plant should:
 Have the ability to grow and multiply under good
conditions without being invasive of adjacent areas
by underground rhizomes.
 Establish quickly, thrive, and grow stronger each
year.
 Be easy to transplant.
 Not be susceptible to crown rot or spring sickness.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Scapes
Scapes should have the following qualities:
 The scape must have adequate strength to support the buds
and flowers (i.e., you should not have to stake the scape
because of wind, rain, or directional light).
 The height of the scape and the size of the flower should be in
good proportion to the thickness of the scape.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Branching and Buds
When evaluating branching and buds on daylilies, remember the
following:
 The scape should branch so that the buds are not all at the top
of the scape.
 Flowers should not open all together or be poorly spaced.
 Branches should be wide apart to allow buds to develop
normally without touching and hampering the opening of the
fully developed flower.
 Branching and bud count should not be so sparse that flowering
ends after a few days.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Balance
Good balance means that the overall daylily
plant has a pleasing relationship between the
foliage and the placement of branches, buds,
and flowers. Remember:
 Short foliage and tall scapes with scant
high branching often appear poorly balanced.
 Emphasis should be placed on how the
scape relates to the rest of the plant,
regardless of height.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Flower Substance
Flower substance is very important when selecting your daylily.
Consider the following:
 Flower tissue should not be thin, and should not wilt, brown, or
melt at the edges.
 If the flower fades during the day, substance should be retained
reasonably well.
 A flower that opens early in the morning should remain
presentable in the evening.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Flower Color
Color has a strong emotional appeal. Consider the following:
 Most people find merit in colors that are clear, bright, soft,
vibrant, distinctive, and pleasingly blended. Well-defined
markings can add much to the beauty of a flower.
 Murky, dingy, streaked, dull, and faded colors can seldom be
considered an asset. Irregular markings are usually considered
a flaw, but a few hybridizers are working with spots and streaks
and getting some interesting results.
 Like many things, some colors and patterns are currently
popular, and something new is always being looked for and
pursued. For instance, getting bands of color within eyes or
green on petal edges are currently areas of interest.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Flower Form
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Flower form, along with color, sets one flower apart from
another. Many variations in form are favored equally by many
daylily collectors; a particular form is favored by others.
Malformed flowers, dissimilarity of segment shape (except in
informal types), and lack of uniformity in placement of flower
segments are undesirable aspects of form.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Flower Texture
Texture refers to the surface quality of the flower. Consider the
following:
 Texture varies from cultivar to cultivar - from the very smooth
satiny waxy finish to velvety, creped, pebbled, diamond-dusted,
and glistening - to name a few.
 Decide whether flower quality suffers by its texture or is
enhanced and beautified by it.
What performance characteristics
are used in describing daylilies?
Beauty and Distinction
Beauty and distinction are two essential factors for any worthwhile
daylily. Many daylilies are being sold that do not possess that special
quality called beauty.
 The old saying is true; beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
When buying a new daylily, ask these questions about distinction:
 Has the daylily that special quality that sets it apart from others of a
similar kind?
 Is the color, pattern, or special blending of colors different or rare?
 Is the form and texture unique, different, and beguiling; is it something
special?
 Does the daylily have the qualities to make it a star in your garden?
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How do I obtain daylilies?
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Commercial Sources Many commercial nurseries and individual
daylily growers sell daylilies. Consider the following recommendations:
Visit nurseries and AHS Display Gardens in your area during the
daylily bloom season and see which cultivars appeal to you and which
ones grow well locally.
Annually, the American Hemerocallis Society publishes an Available
Source List of daylily growers in the spring issue of the Daylily Journal.
Many commercial daylily growers listed in the Available Source List
offer color brochures listing their daylilies. Many mail their brochures
free to members of the American Hemerocallis Society.
A number of commercial daylily growers now have WWW Home
Pages on the Internet.
How do I obtain daylilies?
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Society Sales and Auctions Local and regional daylily societies
often hold plant sales and auctions. Auctions are held at meetings or
by mail. There is even an auction at each AHS National Convention.
Friends Because daylilies usually multiply fast and need to be divided
periodically, daylily fanciers often share some of their increase with
new growers.
How much do daylilies cost?
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Daylily prices range from as low as $3 to as much as $500 for a single
plant.
Do not be scared off by the high price as there are thousands of
excellent daylilies in the $3 to $10 price range.
Only the newest daylilies or significant advances in breeding bring
prices of $100 to $300.
Some recent tetraploid conversions in very limited supply demand the
highest prices.
New growers should venture cautiously into high-price expenditures
that might bring disappointment because of high expectations based
on high price.
When is the right time to plant?
North
In the North, spring planting is normally preferred. Fall planting in colder
climates can prove fatal for daylilies because they often do not have
adequate time to form new roots and to begin to anchor themselves
before winter comes. Experienced gardeners, however, can plant in
the fall provided they: Know the hardiness of the plants
 Take some preventative measures such as mulching.
 Learn the time of the year after which it is not safe to plant in their
location
South
In the far South, early spring or very late fall are the most desirable
planting times. Please be aware that daylilies planted in July, August,
or September when temperatures and humidity are extremely high
(i.e., over 90°), face a high probability of rotting.
Where is the best place to plant
my daylilies?
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Sun or Shade Most daylilies do best in full sun. They will tolerate
part-shade conditions, but require a minimum of six hours of direct sun
per day. Light yellow cultivars, many shades of pink, and delicate
pastels need full sun to bring out their lovely colorings.
Many red and purple cultivars benefit from partial shade in the hottest
part of the day because dark colors absorb heat and do not withstand
the sun as well as lighter colors.
Type of Soil Like most plants, daylilies show maximum performance
in soils with good aeration, fertility and microbial activity. The ideal soil
holds sufficient moisture to sustain the plants, yet is at the same time
well-drained. These characteristics can be improved in soils that have
too much sand or clay by amending with compost.
Where is the best place to plant
my daylilies?
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Drainage For maximum performance, daylilies should be planted in
well-drained soil. In some regions raised beds may be beneficial where
drainage is a problem. However raised beds should be approached
with caution in cold winter regions as being elevated can make the
plants more vulnerable to temperature extremes and fluctuations. Note
also that raised beds generally require more irrigation during the
summer.
Compatibility with Other Plants Daylilies may not do well near or
under trees that compete for moisture and nutrients. They are often
reported to do well under pine trees, however each situation should be
assessed individually. Plants that must compete with tree roots often
do better if supplied with extra watering.
How do I plant my daylilies?
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After Plants Are Received New daylily plants received bare-root by
mail may be "parked" in damp sand or other suitable media until they
can be planted. Many daylily enthusiasts like to soak the roots for a
few hours or overnight in a bucket of water, however others do not
agree with this practice. Some gardeners also include a weak fertilizer
in the soaking water, but this isn't necessary and, if too strong a
solution, may actually be detrimental.
Before Planting Make sure that your daylilies are clean and healthy
before planting them.
How do I plant my daylilies?
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Prepare the Soil The soil where you intend to plant your daylilies should be
worked into a good loose condition to a depth of at least 1 foot. Dig a hole
larger than the root mass.
Make a mound in the center of the hole.
Set the plant in place with the roots spread on all sides of the mound.
New plants should be planted about as deep as they grew originally. The
original depth can be determined easily by the band of white at the base of the
foliage which indicates the part of the plant which was underground.
Do not set the crown (i.e., the point where foliage and roots join) more than 1
inch below the surface of the soil.
How do I plant my daylilies?
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Work the soil around and between the roots as you cover the plant.
Firm the soil and water well.
Make sure that there are no air pockets; this can cause the plant to grow
poorly.
When all the water has soaked in, finish filling in the soil, leaving a slight
depression around the plant.
How do I plant my daylilies?
Spacing
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Daylilies should be spaced no less than 18 to 24 inches apart on each side.
Labeling
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Label each of your daylilies with some type of permanent marker so as to
identify them. A plant loses much of its value when its identification is lost.
What do I need to do to care for
daylilies?
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Water - they like this better than anything else.
Fertilizer – a good 16-4-8 formula works well
Mulching – don’t cover the crown
Grooming – remove spent blooms and scapes. Remove
dead foliage.
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Controlling weeds
Sanitation – to prevent pests and diseases
What do I need to do to care for
daylilies?
Watering
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Water is essential for good daylily performance. Water, supplied in
sufficient amounts, almost certainly increases the number and size of
daylily blooms.
For daylilies, watering is most important in spring when the plants are
making scapes and buds, and in the summer during the bloom
season.
Daylilies benefit more from deep watering, which reaches 8 to 10
inches into the soil, than from a succession of brief, surface waterings.
Caution 1: Overhead watering during the heat of the day will cause
any open blooms to spot and/or wilt.
Caution 2: Watering in the evening can also cause spots on the next
day's blooms.
Caution 3: Be careful not to over water.
What do I need to do to care for
daylilies?
Fertilizing Daylilies grow in a wide range of soils and conditions.
 To determine the nutrient needs of your soil, take a soil sample and
have it analyzed. Contact your local county agricultural agent for
instructions.
 Daylilies can do well over a relatively wide soil pH range and
adjustment of pH need only be considered if the plants appear to be
doing poorly. A soil test as recommended above should always be
conducted before amending with sulfur or lime.
 In the average home garden, a single fertilizer application in the spring
is usually sufficient, although even that may not be necessary every
year.
 In extremely poor soils or on light or sandy soils which tend to leach
badly, more frequent application may be required. Consult with your
local agriculture office for recommendations suitable to your soil and
climate.
What do I need to do to care for
daylilies?
Mulching
 Mulching, although not essential in every area, generally does
contribute to better daylilies by improving the soil and helping retain
moisture.
Grooming
 Keep your garden neat and tidy. Many gardeners remove the day's
blooms at the end of the day to give their gardens a pristine
appearance.
 If you hybridize, expect to leave the pollinated blooms on the plants
until the blossom sheds and the tiny seed pod is formed.
What do I need to do to care for
daylilies?
Controlling Weeds
 The most effective weed control measures for the home garden are
mulching and hoeing.
Sanitation
 Proper sanitation measures lead to healthier daylilies. In the spring,
dead foliage and debris should be cleared away from around your
daylilies.
 During the growing season, damaged or diseased foliage should be
removed.
 At the end of the bloom season, cut off the bloom scapes to within a
few inches of the ground unless you are hybridizing.
What pests affect daylilies?
Aphids
Daylilies have their own specific aphid which feeds only on
daylilies.
 Aphids are most active in cool weather, spring and fall in
temperate zones, and all winter long in the subtropics.
 Controlling daylily aphids is not as easy as with other kinds of
aphids, which are usually vulnerable to such soft controls as
soaps.
 In order to reach daylily aphids inside the fans, a pesticide with
at least a mildly systemic action is needed.
 Do not use the pesticide Kelthane, which is known to harm
daylilies.
What pests affect daylilies?
Spider mites are among the most common daylily pests.
 Spider mites are most active in hot, dry weather.
 You can get some control of spider mites just by hosing them
off as needed.
 Again, do not use the pesticide Kelthane; it is known to harm
daylilies.
What pests affect daylilies?
Thrips
 Several species of thrips are know to infest daylilies. Control
thrips by starting early in the growing season with a pesticide
having either a systemic or long residual action.
 To repeat, do not use the pesticide Kelthane.
What pests affect daylilies?
Slugs and Snails
 Slugs and snails feed on the young, tender tissues, causing
ragged edges and holes. They feed at night and hide during the
day in cool, moist places, such as in mulch, under rocks and
bricks, and in dead foliage.
 Sanitation helps to control slugs and snails. Otherwise, control
requires using pesticides which are targeted specifically at
these pests.
What pests affect daylilies?
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Other insect pests which have been reported affecting daylilies
include cutworms, tarnished plant bugs, cucumber beetles,
wasps, Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, and periodical
cicadas.
Bulb mites may be involved in the transmittal of crown rot.
Deer will sometimes eat daylily flower buds.
See http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_dictionary/pests.html for a
complete description of all daylily pests.
What diseases affect daylilies?
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Rust – Caused by a fungus (Puccinia hemerocallidis)
Orange-yellow powdery spots on leaves and scapes
Orange-yellow spores mark white tissue when leaves wiped
Leaves may die back but the plant as a whole should survive
Some cultivars more susceptible than others, but since this is a new disease in North America this information is currently being
collected
Provide good air circulation and planting distances and minimize overhead watering
Avoid excessive nitrogen and inadequate potassium nutrition
Unlikely to persist where all foliage dies back in winter (or roughly Zone 6 and colder) although may be able to do so where
there are plants of the alternate host, patrinia
Appropriate fungicides may be used
What diseases affect daylilies?
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Spring Sickness–
The name given to a disorder of daylilies which appears soon after
growth commences following winter.
Foliage is twisted, bending, stunted and discolored on some fans in early spring
Affected fans may, or may not, recover and bloom normally that season
Exact cause is unknown
Probably not a disease
Not caused by cold damage following shoot emergence
May involve a combination of contributing factors possibly including, but not necessarily limited to, bulb mites and
the leaf streak fungus.
What diseases affect daylilies?
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Leaf Streak–
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Caused by a fungus (Aureobasidum microstictum)
Brown spots, yellow streaking, and die-back of foliage but not death of plant
May require injury such as pest or frost damage in order to infect
Appropriate fungicides may help
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A fungal disease which affects the leaves of daylilies.
What diseases affect daylilies?
Crown and Root Rot
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Plant yellows and may collapse, leaves may pull out easily, affected tissue is often mushy and plant may die. Signs
of a fungus may be visible, e.g. "shoestrings" for Armillaria rot, and "mustard seeds" for southern blight (Sclerotium
rolfsii), otherwise exact diagnosis requires submission to a diagnostic laboratory
Foul smell may, or may not, be present
May involve a combination of factors such as nematodes, bulb mite or other pest damage, fungal and/or bacterial
pathogens (disease causing agents), weather conditions, gardening practices, soil aeration and moisture conditions
Some cultivars may be more susceptible than others
Of particular concern in warmer climates but may also occur elsewhere
Ensure adequate soil aeration and drainage
Avoid or correct areas of poor air circulation
Avoid too much or too little water and don't over-estimate water needs in periods of high humidity (check soil
moisture before watering)
Avoid over-fertilizing-Avoid over-amending with high water-retentive organic materials
Remember that high temperatures increase transplanting stress and try to avoid if possible
Don't plant too deep
Let wounds from dividing air-dry in the shade before re-planting
Remember that plants in pots are subject to more extreme root/crown temperatures (and therefore stress) than
those in the ground
Treatment differs according to causative agent/s so get laboratory diagnosis of persistent rot problem
For more information on diseases see http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_dictionary/diseases.html
The DON’Ts in a daylily garden
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Pick spent or dead blooms
Pick live bloom
Walk thru the beds to see the bloom better or
get the name of the daylily
Let children run thru the garden
Let your purse hit the daylily
What other sources of daylily
information are available?
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American Hemerocallis Society www.daylilies.org
What other sources of daylily
information are available?
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American Hemerocallis Society www.daylilies.org
www.mydaylilies.com
Charlotte’s Daylily Diary www.daylilydiary.com
View daylilies in garden settings
Visit your public library
Surf the internet
Join a local club
Check Popularity Polls for what grows well in your
area
QUESTIONS?