Daylily
Daylilies are long-lasting perennials with attractive foliage and showy flowers, and are very easy to grow. The individual blossoms last only a day, but are produced continuously over a long season.
Daylilies come in many colors, with flowers in shades of cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, and violet; they are often striped and bicolored. Individually they are from 3 to 5 inches long, and open just as wide. They appear at the ends of long stems. Some varieties are deliciously fragrant. Flowering generally lasts 3 to 4 weeks, but varies according to the cultivar. The bloom season is commonly divided into early (late May and June), middle (July), and late (August into September), although considerable overlapping occurs.
The bright green, handsome, straplike leaves grow I to 2 feet long, and are effective all season. The leaves arch out from the base of the plant, forming a mound of foliage. Stems and flowers arise from this mound.
Depending on variety, daylilies can reach from 20 inches to 3 or 4 feet tall, including flowers. They all form a tough, heavy, tuberous root system. Some varieties are evergreen in mild climates.
Daylilies are long-lived, and clumps will expand indefinitely. They are restrained in growth, permanent, not invasive, and compete well with the roots of trees and shrubs. Hybrids will not reseed.
Daylilies are highly adaptable, but perform best in well-drained soil that is high in organic matter and of only average fertility. They tolerate shade or sun well, seeming to prefer full sun in northern areas, and light shade in the hot South. However, their delicate colors tend to fade quickly in full sun. Too rich a soil leads to the rapid growth of lush foliage and few flowers. Space plants 18 to 36 inches apart.
Care is very easy. Water through dry periods and give an occasional light feeding. To improve appearance, remove the flower stalks after their blossoms are spent. The plant has no serious pests. Although some varieties can be left alone permanently, some of the more vigorous ones give improved performance with division every six or seven years. Division of mature plants is an arduous task due to the heavy root system, but it is still the best means of increase. Divide in spring or late summer.
Cultivars are too numerous to mention here. Extensive breeding has resulted in thousands.
