Growing Daylilies

The daylilies in our front garden are already in bloom. They typically bloom in July here, so they're a couple of weeks ahead of schedule.

Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis and are not true lilies. This Greek word is made up of two parts: hemera meaning day and kallos meaning beauty. The name is indicative of its flower, which lasts only one day. Daylilies are native to Asia.

The leaves of daylilies are long, slender, and grass-like. They form attractive clumps of arching, thin foliage of various sizes ranging from 12 to 30 inches tall by 12 to 24 inches wide. When blooming, they commonly reach 12 to 36 inches tall.

Daylilies thrive in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Amending the soil with rich compost will produce healthy plants and blooms. Avoid piling heavy mulch directly on top of or against the base of the plants, as they need to breathe.

Daylilies prefer full sun to partial shade. Once established, they can withstand heat and drought better then most commonly grown perennials. Generally, they can be grown without many insect or disease problems. However, aphids, crown rot, leaf spots, leaf streak, rust, and spider mites may occasionally become problematic.

Daylilies can be planted from the early spring to late summer. Loosen roots slightly and plant no more than 1" above the crown. Space them about 18" to 24” apart as they will nearly triple in size each year.

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