Daylilies (Hemerocallis): Indestructible Beauty for Every Garden

Daylilies (Hemerocallis): Indestructible Beauty for Every Garden

We'd call the Daylily "the backbone of the perennial garden"—except backbones are fragile, and Daylilies are nearly indestructible. Thriving in a wide range of soils, sun or partial shade, these long-lived perennials are vigorous enough to suppress weeds. Pests and diseases rarely threaten them in suitable conditions with minimal care.

A Daylily for Every Taste

Whether you prefer chaste or flamboyant, there's a Daylily for you. ~60,000 distinct varieties exist; we've selected a diverse, manageable assortment of the very best. Want snowy white trumpets with a cool green throat? Choose 'Lady Elizabeth'. Need a full-blooded, near-black purple-red? 'Jungle Beauty'. Every color except blue available. Can't decide? Our collections/mixes offer a smorgasbord of hues and flower types.

Weeks of Flowers

Individual blossoms last one day, but a plant produces new flowering stems over weeks. Pair early, midseason, and late varieties (as in our "Unique 50" mix) for a summer of unceasing bloom.

What We Ship

Large, field-grown plants that usually bloom first year. Outperform lesser grades. All are "dormant" varieties (deciduous leaves) unless noted.

Daylily Care Summary

• Light/Watering: Full sun in North; tolerate same in South with sufficient moisture. Partial shade okay, preferred for pastel varieties. Drought-tolerant once established; best with consistent moisture.
• Fertilizer/Soil/pH: Well-drained loam, pH near neutral. Organic-rich soils encourage profuse blooming; older hybrids tolerate sand. Fertilize lightly once established; avoid high-nitrogen mixes. Summer mulch appreciated—retains moisture, buffers soil temperature.
• Pests/Diseases: Highly resistant. Thrips occasionally distort blooms, cause cork-like lesions on spikes—use insecticidal soap, remove/destroy infested buds/flowers. Spider mites in hot, dry weather—wash off with forceful spray or use appropriate insecticide. Yellowing/brown tips = normal senescence after flowering; regular grooming keeps plants fresh. If foliage unsightly, cut to ground, water well, new foliage appears.
• Companions: Sunny: Platycodon, Rudbeckia, Liatris, Shasta Daisy, Echinacea. Shadier: Ferns, Hosta, Solomon's Seal. Underplant with Daffodils—Daylily foliage hides dying Daffodil foliage; two gorgeous bloom seasons, minimal maintenance.
• Reflowering: Many reblooming varieties available; need regular old-flower removal for best performance. On all types, snap off spent flowers daily; cut entire flower scape after all buds pass.
• Dividing/Transplanting: Divide every 3–5 years; rebloomers every 2 years (new growth supports rebloom). Two spading forks back-to-back pried apart makes it easy. Transplant anytime soil workable; water well after.
• End-of-Season Care: Remove old foliage by cutting back or pulling off. Very cold hardy (except some evergreen varieties); winter mulch just a nicety.

Calendar of Care

Early Spring: Light balanced/slow-release fertilizer low in nitrogen or side-dress with compost/organic amendments when new growth appears. Divide/transplant as needed; water well.
Mid-Spring: Water well if unseasonably dry; prefer evenly moist soil.
Late Spring: Remove spent flowers daily. Watch for flower thrips; treat accordingly.
Summer: Continue deadheading; cut away flower scapes after all buds open. Groom (remove yellow/dead leaves). Supplement rain to 1 inch/week. Apply 2–3 inches mulch, keeping 1 inch from crowns. Monitor for spider mites; spray if needed.
Fall: Remove old foliage by cutting to ground.