Plant of the Week: Daylily

Daylilies earned their nickname from their flowers; each bloom lasts only one day. That doesn’t mean that this perennial’s bloom time is short lived, quite the opposite. Once Daylilies start blooming in early summer, they don’t let up for weeks! While the cheerful yellow of the Stella D’Oro is the most well-known, Daylilies come in a plethora of colors such as pink, coral, and red. Use them in group plantings and borders.

Care

Full sun, at least 6 hours per day.

Moist, well-draining soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5 is optimal, but Daylilies are highly adaptive to many soil conditions. Drought tolerant once established.

Deadhead spent blossoms to encourage new growth.

Fertilize in spring once new growth emerges with a fertilizer for flowers, like Dr. Earth Total Advantage.

Our Favorite Varieties

Stella D’Oro - A fan-favorite, known for it’s cheerful yellow flowers. A more compact variety, it averages 10 to 12 inches tall and wide.

Black Arrowhead - This variety wows with it’s spidery mauve flowers. Reaches up to 34 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.

Joan Senior - Creamy yellow flowers add a touch of elegance to wherever this variety is planted. 24 to 26 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.

Cheese & Wine - With buttery yellow centers bordered by pale marron edges, this daylily certainly is eye-catching! 24 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.

Pardon Me - Those stunning red flowers will make this variety the jewel and any bed or container! 12 to 24 inches tall and wide. 

Tangerine Twist - This variety boasts pale orange flowers and a gorgeous fragrance! 28 to 34 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.