Daylilies:  Beauty for a Day

Hemerocallis, the generic classification of daylilies, means ‘beauty for a day.’ Each flower only lasts a day, but there are many buds to open on multiple stalks, or scapes, for a long succession of bloom.  And though daylilies are called “lilies,” they are not true lilies, but grow from tough, fibrous roots rather than bulbs like true lilies.

Are daylilies the ideal perennial?  They are certainly very versatile.  They can be used in mass groupings, or as individual specimens in the mixed perennial border.  They come in many sizes from tiny miniatures to large blooms of over 5” wide.  They have varied forms from the simple shapes of the species, to extremely ruffled, to elongated spidery shapes, and they are easy to grow, reliable and beautiful.  The grassy foliage is neat and attractive all season, and they have few insect or disease problems. 

The color range is astounding from near white, cream, melon, orange, pink, rose, red, purple, wine to almost black.  The only colors eluding hybridizers are true white and blue—and they will probably achieve those.  And the patterns and color combinations of recent introductions are incredible.  It’s hard to imagine that all this variation has come from crossing a few species, and then re-crossing selected cultivars.  No wonder daylily hybridization is so popular!   Everyone wants to find that next breakthrough.

Some daylilies are quite fragrant, adding to their charm.  All parts of the plant are edible, too—they have been used as a food source in Asia for centuries. 

The ranking of diploid or tetraploid refers to the genetic makeup of a particular cultivar.

Diploid means that there are two sets of chromosomes in each cell.  Diploids make up the majority of daylilies and are said to be easier to cross.

Tetraploid means that the cultivar has four sets of chromosomes in each cell causing sturdier growth, larger flowers, more budscapes and greater vigor.

There are thousands of cultivars available in almost any size, shape and color to work with any garden scheme or location.  To choose your favorites, visit local garden centers, botanical gardens, online specialists, and daylily growers at the peak of bloom.  For more information, the American Daylily Society has an excellent, information-packed website, www.daylilies.org.

A Few Common Daylily Species

Hemerocallis fulva, tawny or orange daylily, Zones 3-9.  This is a common sight along roadsides, giving it the epithet of "ditch lily."  But it doesn't deserve the scorn, being pretty in its own right, and tough.  Settlers brought it to the colonies where it escaped cultivation and established colonies readily.  Good for erosion control and a pollinator attractant. 

Hemerocallis fulva ‘Kwanso,’ double daylily, Zones 3-9.  The double form of H. fulva, has been used in the hybridization of fancy modern double cultivars.

Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, lemon lily, Zones 3-10.  

A Few Choice Daylily Cultivars

‘Aerial Applique’ is an eye-catcher in lavender with a darker violet halo and large golden yellow applique.  Reblooms, tetraploid, semi-evergreen, to 32”.

‘Autumn Minaret’ is a very tall cultivar (to 66”), and the orange-yellow, narrow-petaled flowers with darker eye zone blooms from mid-summer into fall. 

‘Autumn Red’ is a bright red with rippled petal edges and a yellow heart with radiating yellow ribs down the center of each petal and sepal.  Reblooms, diploid, dormant.

‘Catherine Woodbery’ has soft lavender petals with paler sepals and a wide, glowing chartreuse heart.  Introduced in 1967, this daylily continues its popularity due to its fragrance, long blooming season, and charm.  Mid-to-late season, diploid, dormant.

‘Edith Sliger’ is a lovely rose pink with wide very ruffled petals edged in gold.  Tetraploid, semi-evergreen.

‘Fairy Tale Pink’ was the Stout Silver Medal Winner 1990, the highest daylily award.  Pink self with green throat, ruffled petals and sepals.  Diploid, semi-evergreen.

‘Fragrant Returns’ is a soft lemon yellow self with slightly ruffled edges.  It is akin to ‘Happy Returns’ but a little paler.  Fragrant, reblooms.

‘Francis of Assisi.’  One from the Trophytaker® series of daylilies, ‘Francis of Assisi’ is a lovely bright wine red with a white picotee edge and green throat.  This semi-evergreen tetraploid is very vigorous.

‘Hyperion’ is a classic dating from 1924. Blooms stay open an unusually long time, up to 19 hrs.  A light yellow self, dormant, diploid, fragrant, rebloomer, to 40”.   

‘Joan Senior’ is a near-white self with green throat often used by hybridizers in the search for the elusive pure white daylily.  Diploid, evergreen.

‘Luxury Lace’ is a classic daylily from 1959 with rippled lavender-pink petals a little darker than the sepals.  Stout Silver Medal winner of 1965. Diploid, dormant, reblooms.

‘Nosferatu’ is another of the Trophytaker® series of daylilies.  Very strong and vigorous, this semi-evergreen tetraploid is a deep purple self with chartreuse throat and very heavy substance.

‘Palace Garden Beauty’ is a ruffled lavender with white midribs and darker lavender watermark and yellow throat.  Evergreen, tetraploid.

‘Pandora’s Box’ is a creamy near white with a purple eyezone and yellow throat.  Petite in size, it grows to about 20.”  Reblooms, diploid, evergreen.

‘Persian Pattern’ has a simpler form that harkens back to the species, but this yellow and purple bitone adds a striking chevron pattern on the petals and fainter echo on the sepals.  Diploid, dormant.

‘Prairie Blue Eyes’ is a gorgeous color, a lavender with a subtle deeper purple eyezone and bright yellow throat.  The petals have a strongly defined central rib, and the sepals recurve.  Diploid, semi-evergreen.

‘Primetime Sunshine,’ from BlewLabel^® Perennials, is a charming yellow self with ruffled and puckered petals and contrasting dark scapes, and it reblooms.  Semi-evergreen, diploid.

‘Red Rooster’ struts its bright red color with panache.  This late season bloomer is tetraploid and goes dormant in winter.

‘Royal Braid’ sports a deep purple eyezone with matching braid on the ruffled petal edges on a lighter lavender ground.  Tetraploid, semi-evergreen, reblooms.

‘Royal Frosting’ is from the Trophytaker® series of daylilies.  A pale cream near-white self, with green throat, ruffled and diamond-dusted.  It is early to open and late to close in the evening.  ‘Joan Senior’ is in its parentage.  Diploid, dormant.

‘Ruffled Apricot’ was the Stout Silver Medal Winner for 1982.  Beautiful apricot self that glows in the garden.  Tetraploid, dormant.

‘Ruffled Pastel Cheers’ just glows in the garden in pastel yellow with a hint of peach and very ruffled petals.  Tetraploid, dormant.

‘Strawberry Candy’ was the Stout Silver Medal Winner for 1998.   Unusual strawberry-pink with striking darker eyezone.  Tetraploid, semi-evergreen.

‘Temple Goddess’ is a soft peach ruffled self with golden throat.  Tetraploid, evergreen.

‘Winning Ways’ was the Stout Silver Medal Winner 1974.  This is probably the oldest plant in my garden having come with me on several moves over the years.  It is a large soft yellow self with somewhat recurved petals and sepals, opens early and stays open late.  Diploid, dormant.

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