Hand‑Pollinating Daylilies to Create New Colors

Creating Custom Daylily Hybrids

Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are easy to hand‑pollinate, allowing you to combine traits from different cultivars.

Simple Hand‑Pollination Steps

1. Collect pollen: In the morning, when anthers are dehiscing, brush a small artist’s brush or cotton swab over the anthers of the “father” plant.
2. Transfer to stigma: Gently touch the pollen‑laden brush to the sticky stigma of the “mother” flower.
3. Label: Tag the pollinated flower with parent names and date.
4. Wait for pod: If successful, the ovary will swell into a seed pod over several weeks.

Seed Harvest and Germination

• Allow pods to dry on the plant until they split.
• Collect black seeds; store cool and dry until planting.
• Seeds need cold stratification: sow outdoors in fall or refrigerate in moist medium for 30–60 days before spring sowing.
• Germinate at 70–75°F under lights; transplant after last frost.

Resource

Detailed guide: Pollinator.com – Hand Pollination.

Hand‑pollination is a fun way to develop unique daylily varieties tailored to your garden.