When most people hear the word “Daylily” they think of the tall, orange-colored flowers with lush grass-like foliage that line the driveways and ditches along country roads. These people are not wrong in thinking this, it’s simply that their imagery is a little dated. The modern Daylily has made its way from the roadside to center stage in many gardens and its popularity is growing by leaps and bounds.
If you’ve ever seen a Daylily garden at peak bloom, you no doubt can understand why Daylilies are one of America’s most popular perennials. The beauty, grace, and sheer awesomeness of this flower is absolutely breathtaking. The variety one can find a hybrid Daylilies is unsurpassable. From round, ruffled blossoms to graceful, narrow-petaled, spidery forms, from tall plant habit to short, and from large-flowered to very small, this remarkable plant comes in every color (except true blue and true black) and a variety of color patterns. The newer hybrids are even available with intricate, picoteed edges that defy description.
Nicknames the “Perfect Per Perennial,” Daylilies are virtually carefree. Their toughness belies their exquisite splendor. Daylilies will grow to please in almost any type of soil. Given a sunny spot in the garden, they will put on quite a show, and with a little water and a touch (not too much) of fertilizer, they will strut their stuff like no other flower.
Daylily bloom season begins in late May in this area and with late-blooming varieties and re-bloomers, the season can last up until front. Although each blossom lasts only a day, flowerscapes can have anywhere between 20-60 buds. Most Daylilies have one bloom cycle per season, but many can have up to two to four bloom cycles, and a few like STELLA DE ORA and HAPPY RETURNS, continually bloom all season long.
No matter what the landscape, Daylilies make a wonderful addition to any garden. They’re not just for the roadside any more.