... a flower which perisheth at night and buddeth at the sunne rising

... and therefore is called the Day Lillie, or lillie for a day

John Gerard, 1597

The daylily (hemerocallis) was so named because each flower lasts only one day. The name comes from Greek, hemera meaning "day" and Kallos meaning "beauty." Fortunately, the plants produce many flowers, so the color continues for weeks. An important goal of daylily hybridizers is to get the flowers to last longer and they are having some success. A number of new daylily introductions have "extended days" so the flowers last until sundown.

Some kinds, such as Stella de Oro, (golden star) and other "Stella" hybrids such as "Ruby Stella", "Black-eyed Stella," and "Purple Stella" bloom all summer and that is another of the main goals of the hybridizers. To get continuous color in your garden, buy several varieties and read the tags which tell you the blooming time.

As with other plants, daylilies may be named for the person who created the hybrid, dedicated to a friend or a family member of the hybridizer, such as "Ed Brown" or Barbara Mitchell. Some are named for characteristics of the plant, such as "Tiger Eye." The language of horticulture is Latin, which can seem strange to new gardeners, but is very useful for many growers and gardeners.

Some daylilies are advertised as being "reblooming," which may mean that, like the "Stella" series, they will bloom all season. Others are called "fall reblooming" which may not happen here if we have early frost.

Some daylilies are advertised as "evergreen," which also won't happen here. Some daylilies, such as the early Hemerocallis flava (generally called the Lemon Lily) are beautifully fragrant. Others have edible blossom buds called golden needles which are used in some oriental cuisines.

Many people are not interested in planting daylilies because, as with iris, they are thinking of the old varieties which bloom for a short time and spread vigorously. Those old varieties still have their uses, especially in landscaping large, dry areas. Their fibrous roots can help stabilize hillsides and the foliage is attractive.

Now they are bred for longer blooming periods, more buds, various sizes, and many colors. Daylilies used to come in yellow and orange. Now they are available from purple to bright red, deep burgundy to almost black, peach to pink (and almost white.) The hybridizer who comes up with pure white, black, and especially blue, will become famous in the daylily world, and likely will become wealthy.

Many daylilies are very ornate, with bicolors and ruffles. Many of the newer ones are double. They do not spread like the old ones did.

Daylilies are best planted where they will receive 4 - 6 hours of sun each day. In our hot climate some filtered shade in the hottest time of the day will help prevent fading of color in the reds and purples.

Before planting daylilies, soil should be enriched and lightened by adding compost and peat moss. A slow-release fertilizer or bonemeal provides extra nutrients for the plant. Don't use a high nitrogen fertilizer which will promote lots of foliage growth, but few flowers. Do not fertilize after mid-August as early frosts can kill new, soft growth.

Daylilies, like all plants, need to be well-watered when first planted and until they are established. After that, they require little care. Deep watering in dry summers is advised. Deep watering once in a while is much more valuable than frequent shallow watering.

Daylilies will need to be separated every three or four years, or whenever flowers start to become sparse. In early fall I will write a column about dividing perennials. Daylilies are not the favorite food of deer, but deer do like the flower buds. Sometimes deer will eat the new shoots early in spring but the plants recover nicely.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Dig a big hole and mix in some compost and peat moss (amount depends on your soil). Composted bark mulch or wood chips help to break down hard clay. If your soil is very heavy, dig in a shovelful of pea gravel. Add a good handful of bone meal and dig in. Water the hole thoroughly.

Prune back the foliage to about six inches. Plant the daylily, ensuring that roots are well-spread. Hold the plant upright and refill the hole, being careful to keep the crown about one inch below the soil level. Water the plant well. Place the plant tag or other marker beside the plant for future reference.

For gardening questions, please email me at cwcasey@shaw.ca