All About Daylilies

• Written by Holly Hughes on June 20, 2022

‘Beautiful for one day’ – such is the meaning of the daylily’s Greek title, ‘Hemerocallis’. It’s so-named due to the fact this exotic and exquisite flower blooms only for one day. Despite this transience, Hemerocallis still makes for a dramatic addition to any garden or floral arrangement.

This daylilies’ planting guide will cover everything needed to grow and take care of these showstopping flowers, as well as answer some of the most common questions about them.

Unable to grow flowers at home? Purchase a cut flower creation from1800Flowers instead to experience all of the fragrant joy of this bloom.

How to take care of daylilies

As one of the most low-maintenance plants there is that is able to grow in a variety of soils and is impervious to most pests and diseases, landscaping with daylilies couldn’t be easier. These ‘beautiful for one day’ flowers are ridiculously simple to take care of and as perennials will even grow back year after year, providing you with many seasons of bright, trumpet-like blooms.

Related Post:Tropical Low-Maintenance Plants

Though able to withstand drought, patchy sunlight, and other unfavorable conditions, showing your daylily some tender loving care – particularly after blooming – can make all the difference to your plant.

Read on to discover the optimal conditions and care your lily needs to reach its most beautiful potential.

Related Post:How to Care for Peace Lily

What is the best soil for daylilies?

An unfussy plant, daylily can grow in almost any soil – even clay! However, for optimal growth, choose a soil that is well-draining, moist, and fertile and is in full sun.

Where to plant daylilies?

These perennials should be planted in an area that is guaranteed to receive full sunlight for at least six hours every day.

Enjoying their own space, it’s also a good idea to plant them away from other shrubs that might compete for food, water, and nourishment.

How much water do daylilies need?

Hemerocallis appreciate a regular watering and typically do best when they receive roughly an inch of water every week. Depending on where you live and the season, this should look like watering your daylily once or twice a week during the spring and warm weather.

Be careful not to overwater - daylilies, like many other plants, don’t do well in very wet soil which can lead to root rot and other diseases.

Going on holidays? Read our guide onhow to water plants while away so your outside and indoor plants can stay fresh and watered while you’re out of town.

Caring for daylilies after they bloom

If daylilies receive the proper care and attention after blooming, you can look forward to this beauty coming back even stronger next year.

Many people wonder, ‘are you supposed to deadhead daylilies?’ The answer is, yes! Just like other spring flowers such ashyacinth and daffodils, deadheading these flowers as soon as the bloom fades is a very important part of the regeneration process.

Removing the blooms immediately prevents the flower from producing seeds which take away much of the energy the bulb needs in order to grow back strong and healthy. Deadheading is done by pinching or cutting off the flower. Alternatively, given how beautiful cut daylilies are, you can cut the bloom at the stalk as soon as it opens to use in a beautiful arrangement.

For showstopping lily bouquets, trust the experts atSendFlowers.

Like the after care oftulips andmuscari, it’s important to avoid cutting back daylily leaves until they’ve completely died off. The leaves, while still green, are providing your plant with vital energy that it will store up and use to grow back so be sure to leave the foliage for pruning until it’s well and truly withered.

Daylily garden ideas

With so many varieties to choose from, in all manner of colors and some even boasting a stunning fragrance, the ideas and ways you can incorporate Hemerocallis into your garden are truly endless.

If you would like a host of blossoming flowers from spring right through until the first frost, combine early to late season bloomers, offsetting them with reblooming varieties.

While daylilies are great in borders and their often-evergreen leaves make them a great asset to a spring flower bed in hiding foliage as it dies back, they are particularly good in a Japanese-style garden. As we know, lilies haveenormous symbolic value in Japan, and the bright colors of the daylily would make a perfect addition to a Japanese yard.

Read more about Japanese style gardenshere or practice the art of ikebana by subscribing to a DIY flower subscription fromEnjoyFlowers.

FAQs about daylilies

Do daylilies close at night?

Daylilies are so called because they only bloom for one day before dying. While it might look like they close at night, these flowers are in fact dying, and the bloom  that appears to ‘reopen’ on the following day is an entirely new one present on the same stalk.

Do daylilies come back every year?

Yes, daylilies can rebloom year after year even with the most minimal care!

Do daylilies need to be covered for frost?

One of the hardiest and most resilient of plants, daylilies do not usually need to be protected from frost. If their bulbs are planted in winter, planting them deep and covering with a layer of mulch should be enough to protect them from frost.

When sprouting, covering them on particularly bitter nights and ensuring roots are protected with enough mulch won’t do any harm.

Related Post: How to keep plants warm in winter 

How big do daylilies get?

Some daylily varieties can stretch to six feet tall, however most scapes will reach one to four feet in height. To read about some really big flowers you can dramatize your garden with, clickhere.

How long do daylilies bloom?

When and for how long your daylily will bloom depends on the variety. Most plants will open their many flowers over a period of 30 to 40 days or four to five weeks. If you choose your varieties wisely, it’s possible to have daylilies blooming in your garden almost year-round!

Of course, you can always enjoy the delight of daylilies at any time of year by ordering a bouquet of them from affordable and speedy delivery services likeFromYouFlowers.