Hemerocallis / Daylilies

This tough-as-nails plant has progressed far beyond the common orange “ditch lilies” to the now over 50,000 registered varieties in all sizes, shapes and colors. And while it’s true that each bloom only lasts one day, a good-sized clump will produce a surprising number of flowers in one season (I’ve read claims of 300 per clump!) And by choosing varieties that are early, middle and late bloomers, gardeners can extend the season considerably.

My only complaint about these impossible-to-kill beauties is their less-than-stellar foliage. As a plant, they don’t have much impact in the garden when they’re not blooming, so it helps to tuck them between more substantial plants (like shrubs, or shrub-like perennials) or mass them where they’re seen from a distance. Some of the better performers have been selected and branded as Trophytakers, which have performed very well in my garden.

Daylilies are native to much of Asia, where written records mention them as far back as the time of Confucius. They were brought to North America by the earliest settlers.

Details

• Long-lived.
• Hardy to Zones 3-9.
• Sun-loving but shade-tolerant. Pastels perform better with partial shade. In full shade daylilies will survive, but won’t bloom.
• Their thick, fibrous roots make for both easy shipping and drought tolerance.
• They’re tolerant of salt spray.
• They’ll even grow near black walnut.
• Severe extremes of hot and cold are no problem for them.
• I’ve never heard of daylilies being noticeably bothered by insects or disease.
• They’re unrelated to Easter lilies or any other lilies.