ABOUT DAYLILIES
Daylilies are perennials. Not only do they come back each year, but they multiply.
There are currently over 50,000 varieties in commerce. They have come a long way
in recent years, with the advent of different color edges and many unusual forms.
They are tolerant of neglect and resistant to most diseases and pests. They do perform
best, like most plants, in well-drained , well-prepared beds which are given about an
inch of water per week during the growing season. I have been told by the "experts"
that they like their water (and fertilizer) in small batches on an almost continual basis.
For info on fertilizing click here. They need to be divided every few years. When you
notice a decrease in bloom this may be a sign that it is time to do so. If your daylilies
are performing poorly, or before you first plant a bed you should have your soil
tested. It is inexpensive and a must for the serious (and not so serious) gardener. The
UCONN soil testing lab is great resource for this.
There are two basic kinds of daylilies --tetraploids and diploids. The names are
genetically based on their respective number of chromosomes. Unless you plan on
hybridizing(which by the way is easy and fun)you need not worry about this.
Each flower lasts one day --hence the name. The Latin name for daylilies is
Hemerocallis, which means "beauty for a day".However, a plant will mature into
several "fans" rapidly and each scape (stem) that it sends up will have 15-50 buds on
it. Thus,the actual blooming time can be for many weeks.
Within the past few years daylily rust has been found in this country It is a fungal
type disease which is unsightly and can be spread via air or contact. It does not kill
the plants. Studies are underway to learn more about daylily rust, and much
information is available on the Internet already. We have had rust the past three
seasons but have not found it to be a major problem. It has shown up briefly in fall on
a few new arrivals. It has NOT overwintered in our garden --it's too cold here .Click
here for more info on our rust situation.
Some daylilies will rebloom in our zone 6 garden, but there are only a few compared
to warmer zones. Instead of emphasizing rebloomers I like having many varieties to
have a longer bloom season and create a different landscape as the season progresses.
Also, many of the reliable rebloomers are --well, rather "plain".I like the newer ornate
edges and ruffles. Reblooming is a function of genetics and good cultural practices,
especially adequate moisture. Some varieties which have rebloomed for us include:
(this does not include first year plants that got a head start in a warmer climate!)
CHRISTMAS EVE BLACK EYE'D STELLA APRICOT SPARKLES
CHORUS LINE DAY AFTER EARLY AND OFTEN
INDIAN GIVER ROSY RETURNS LACE COOKIES
STELLA D'ORO MANY MELON MOONS COLORADO MOONFIRE
TWO PART HARMONY SEARS TOWER
BRIDGETON EYECATCHER BRIDGETON GEM
BRIDGETON GALA BRIDGETON GIFT
YELLOW BOUQUET JT DAVIS
IT'S A MIRACLE VATICAN CITY
WINEBERRY CANDY FREQUENT FLIER
FLOWERS OF SULPHUR MIRACLE MAMA
NEON RAINBOW
DELICATE LACE
We do not grow all of these at this time but are leaving the info up for informational
purposes.