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What is a Daylily?

The Daylily, botanically known as Hemerocallis, is an extremely reliable, strong, and colorful perennial. Although its name might suggest otherwise, it is not a true lily from a biological perspective, but belongs to its own family. The Dutch name 'Daglelie' (and the Greek name Hemerocallis, meaning 'beauty for a day') refers to the unique characteristic that each individual flower blooms for only one day. Fortunately, a mature plant is filled with dozens of new flower buds every week, allowing it to shine continuously for months. At Planten247, the Daylily is one of the absolute favorites for the border due to its lush, grass-like leaves and impressive abundance of flowers.

The benefits of a Daylily?

Planting a Hemerocallis offers a great many benefits for both the novice and experienced gardener. The main advantages of the Daylily are:

• Extremely strong and long-lived: A Daylily can stay in the same spot for decades and becomes more beautiful and fuller every year.
• Uncomplicated regarding soil: Whether it's sand, sandy loam, or heavy clay, the plant adapts effortlessly.
• Suppresses weeds: Due to its dense, clump-forming growth with grass-like leaves, the plant acts as an excellent groundcover, giving weeds little chance to grow.
• Attracts pollinators: The striking, open flowers are a beloved stop for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies.
• Few issues with diseases: The plant is virtually immune to the dreaded lily beetle and other persistent pests.

What to look for when buying a Daylily?

When buying a Daylily, it is important to pay attention to the specific cultivar and the quality of the roots. At Planten247, we only supply healthy, vigorous plants in pots (often P9 or larger) with a well-developed root system, which ensures a quick start in the garden. When making your choice, consider the flower color and the blooming period. There are early-blooming, late-blooming, and repeat-blooming varieties (such as the popular yellow 'Stella de Oro'). In addition, the flower shape varies from classic trumpets to spectacular 'spider' shapes with narrow petals. Choose a variety that matches the rest of your border in terms of height and color.

Daylily Winter Hardiness

The Daylily is exceptionally winter hardy. Most species tolerate temperatures down to -20°C or colder without any problems. In the autumn, the foliage dies back completely above ground, after which the plant enters hibernation. Frost has no harmful effect on the fleshy rootstocks underground. In fact, a good cold period in winter often stimulates the plant to bloom even more richly the following spring. As soon as the first spring sun warms the soil, the fresh green shoots emerge again.

Daylily Blooming Period

The blooming period of the Daylily depends on the chosen species, but generally, the peak occurs during the summer months of June, July, and August. However, there are also fantastic repeat-blooming species that start as early as May and only stop when the first night frost sets in during October. Although an individual flower withers at the end of the day, a new bud opens the next morning. This allows you to enjoy an uninterrupted sea of flowers for weeks or even months.

Daylily Height

The height of a Daylily varies enormously per cultivar, making it possible to find a suitable species for every spot. There are compact dwarf species that only reach 30 to 40 centimeters in height, ideal for the front of the border or in pots. Average border plants grow between 60 and 80 centimeters tall. Looking for a real eye-catcher for the back of the border? There are also monumental species whose flower stems shoot up as high as 100 to 120 centimeters.

Combining Daylilies

Thanks to its graceful, fountain-like foliage and bright flower colors, the Hemerocallis is fantastic to combine in a natural or modern border. Wonderful garden partners include:

• Ornamental grasses: Such as Pennisetum (Fountain grass) or Miscanthus, for a beautiful texture contrast with the broad leaves of the Daylily.
• Purple border plants: Such as Salvia nemorosa (Sage), Nepeta (Catmint), or Lavender; the purple forms a stunning complementary contrast with yellow or orange Daylilies.
• Coneflower (Echinacea): Blooms during the same period and enhances the ultimate summer feeling in the border.
• Phlox: Provides a nice, dense filler behind or next to the Daylily clumps.

Daylily in a Pot

The Daylily also does surprisingly well in a pot or terrace container. This makes the plant perfect for brightening up a sunny balcony or a boring patio. It is best to choose the lower, compact cultivars (such as 'Stella de Oro') so that the plant remains well-proportioned to the pot. Always ensure a spacious pot with holes in the bottom and a good layer of hydro-pellets, because although the plant is strong, it does not like standing water. Keep in mind that plants in pots need more frequent watering and occasional plant food during the summer months.

Planting a Daylily

In principle, you can plant a Daylily all year round, provided it is not freezing or extremely dry and hot. The absolute best planting time is in the spring (March/April) or early autumn (September/October). Choose a location in full sun to light partial shade; the more sun the plant receives, the more exuberant the blooming will be. Dig a large planting hole, loosen the surrounding soil well, and mix in some compost if desired. Place the root ball so that the top of the roots is about 2 to 3 centimeters below the soil level. Water generously after planting to give the roots a good start.

How do I maintain a Daylily?

The Daylily is known as one of the most low-maintenance perennials. Care is minimal:

• Removing faded flowers: You can easily pluck the daily withered flowers by hand. This keeps the plant looking tidy and fresh. When an entire flower stem has finished blooming, cut it off at the base.
• Spring pruning: In late winter or early spring (March), you can cut back the dead, dried-out foliage from the previous season just above the ground or simply pull it away by hand.
• Pruning after blooming: With some species, the foliage can look a bit unsightly after the blooming period. Feel free to prune the plant back significantly; it will sprout again in no time with fresh, lush green leaves.

Buying Daylilies at Planten247

Are you convinced of the power and beauty of this summer bloomer? Buying a Daylily at Planten247 means choosing top quality directly from the grower. We pack our perennials with the utmost care so that they are delivered to your home in perfect condition. Whether you are looking for a garden plant for your border or a strong groundcover, you are guaranteed to find the perfect Hemerocallis for your garden in our online range.

Yellow Daylily

Are you specifically looking for a yellow Daylily? Then you've come to the right place at Planten247. Within our current range, we are currently focusing exclusively on the beautiful, yellow-flowering variants of the Hemerocallis. Yellow is by far the most popular and reliable color within this plant family. A yellow Daylily (such as the world-famous 'Stella de Oro') instantly brings a warm, sunny atmosphere to your border and is perfect as a colorful groundcover or edging plant thanks to its compact growth. Furthermore, the bright, golden-yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the fresh, grass-like green foliage, ensuring your border retains a vital and lively appearance all summer long.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Daylily

Is the Daylily poisonous?

The Daylily is not poisonous to humans (the flowers are even edible!). For dogs and cats, the situation is nuanced, but vigilance is required. The plant is generally safe and non-toxic for dogs. However, be careful with cats: for cats, true lilies (Lilium) are lethally toxic. Although the Daylily (Hemerocallis) belongs to a different plant family, there is a discussion in medical literature about possible kidney problems in cats after eating large quantities of Hemerocallis. We therefore advise as a precaution not to let cats eat this plant.

Is the Daylily a perennial?

Yes, the Daylily is a true perennial. It belongs to the herbaceous, perennial plants. This means that the plant dies back above ground every year in winter, overwinters underground via its strong rootstocks, and returns in the spring larger, fuller, and with even more flower stems.

Is the Daylily evergreen?

Most Daylilies planted in our gardens are not evergreen; they are so-called 'deciduous' perennials whose foliage dies back completely in winter. However, there are also semi-evergreen or fully evergreen cultivars (often originating from warmer climates). These retain their green foliage during mild winters, but in our climate, they can still become unsightly or partially freeze during severe frost.

How long does a Daylily bloom?

Although an individual flower lives for only 24 hours, the entire plant blooms for an average of 4 to 6 weeks consecutively due to the enormous amount of successive buds on the stems. High-quality repeat-blooming species (such as the Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro') can easily continue producing flowers for 3 to 4 months straight from early summer deep into autumn.

Is a Daylily edible?

Yes, the Daylily is completely edible for humans and is even considered a delicacy in Asian cuisine. The young shoots in the spring, the buds, and the opened flowers can all be consumed. The petals have a crunchy texture and a mild, slightly sweet taste (comparable to lettuce or green beans) and are perfect to use as a colorful garnish in salads or stuffed with a fresh spread.

Why is my Daylily not blooming?

If a Daylily refuses to bloom, it is in most cases due to a lack of sunlight. When the plant is too much in the shade of trees or shrubs, it will produce beautiful foliage but the flower buds will fail to appear. Another reason may be that the plant has been in the same spot for many years and has grown too dense. You can easily solve this by dividing and rejuvenating the plant.

How can I propagate or divide a Daylily?

Propagating a Daylily is very simple by means of dividing. It is best to do this in early spring (March) or immediately after blooming in the autumn. Dig up the mature plant clump in its entirety with a spade. Then cut the root ball into two or three pieces with a sharp spade, or carefully pull the roots apart. Plant the separate parts back in the ground immediately; they will quickly take root and bloom beautifully the following year.

What type of soil does the Hemerocallis need?

The Daylily is definitely not picky and grows in almost any soil type. However, the ideal soil is a nutritious, humus-rich, and slightly moist soil that is well-drained. In heavy clay soil, it is advisable to mix some sand or compost through the planting hole to improve the structure, so that the fleshy roots do not rot in the winter due to excess water.

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