HO-16
YARD AND GARDEN
HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT • COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907
DAYLILIES
John A. Wott, Extension home environment horticulturist
Daylilies, one of the easiest to grow garden perennials, are gaining in popularity. They survive under a wide range of conditions, are practically trouble-free, and can remain undisturbed for many years.
Botanically, daylilies are called Hemerocallis, derived from the Greek word meaning “beautiful for a day.” The name is somewhat misleading because even though individual flowers last only for a single day, new buds open daily, and the stalks bear flowers for several weeks.
Most people are familiar with the clone “Europa,” which has become naturalized along roadsides, in old gardens, and in abandoned cemeteries. Our modern hybrid daylilies show vast improvements in color, size, and flowering ability.

Flower description
The flowers are borne on slender scapes (flower stalks) which arise from the center of the vegetative crown of the plant (Figure 1). Usually much branched near the top, the showy, lily-like flowers open for one day only. Individual blooms vary from 1 inch to more than 8 inches in diameter and are composed of 3 sepals and 3 petals. Flower shape will vary with the individual cultivar. Some cultivars have wide and overlapping petals, while others have petals which bend backward. Some flowers may be crinkled, ruffled, or shaped like trumpets, cups, or bells. Some cultivars will automatically drop the spent bloom, thus giving the plant a neater appearance. These are known as "self-cleaners."

Uses
Smaller types of daylilies are ideal border plants. Daylilies can also be effectively used with spring-flowering bulbs, since when spring bulbs die down the daylily foliage will replace the empty areas. Mass plantings are effective for landscape uses, adding both foliage and flower contrast to larger trees and shrubs. Types which spread rapidly are good for erosion control on steep banks.

Culture
Location
Often noted for its thriftiness under conditions of neglect, the daylily does respond to good care. Locate plants in full sun or partial shade. They prefer a loamy soil, but they will grow in a wide range of soil types. Deep soil preparation before planting is also beneficial. Incorporation of organic matter on sandy soils may be helpful. Rich soil may cause excess foilage and sparse bloom.
While able to grow under both wet and dry soil conditions, daylilies prefer good drainage and moderate moisture. Water-logged sites, however, are usually not recommended.