Daylilies are rarely the focal point of a landscape at this time of year. Most traditional types’ gorgeous, vivid flowers that adorned their scapes earlier in the summer have long since faded, leaving behind a far less appealing plant that closely resembles a clump of grass. As their name suggests, each flower only lasts for one day before giving way to succeeding flower buds, many of which only open for a few weeks.
Nevertheless, during the past century, plant breeders (both professional and amateur) have worked arduously to generate approximately 89,000 identified varieties, offering a wide range of attractive qualities, including re-blooming and late blooming cultivars that flower far into the fall season.
A flowering plant in the family Hemerocallis that is native to Asia is known by the common name “daylily.” For more than 4,000 years, Hemerocallis species have been utilized in China as food and medicine (the buds and roots are edible). This genus didn’t emerge in Europe until the 1500s, when it started its history in western culture as an ornamental plant.
Due to their general resilience and low maintenance requirements, daylilies were brought to the New World with early European immigrants and quickly became popular among homesteads due to their simplicity in propagation and speedy establishment.
Two of the wild Hemerocallis species become popular in the West. The yellow daylily (H. lilaspheodelus), also known as the lemon daylily, and the orange daylily (H. fulva), also known as the tawny daylily or tiger daylily. Both species were widely cultivated across the US by the early 1900s. They were able to leave behind abandoned homesteads, cemeteries, and other traces of human habitation after years of success in our moderate East Coast environment, naturalizing roadsides and other semi-natural areas.
Plant breeders have greatly improved daylilies over the past 100 years or so, resulting in a large variation of color, texture, size, and bloom time. Modern variants come in a staggering array of hues, from pastel pinks and reds to shades of deep crimson, purple, and nearly blue. Even more intriguing is to think about how the bright palette we have today evolved from a collection of only yellow, orange, and rose-colored flowers.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mike Weber, a local gardener and daylily enthusiast, to find out more about the fascinating field of daylily hybridization. Since the middle of the 1980s, Weber has worked with daylilies and is an expert on the history of daylily breeding in the US. He also has personal experience creating his own hybrids.
Weber is interested in a variety of daylily traits, but some of his most recent hybridization attempts have concentrated on cultivars with later flowering times. Last week, Mike showed me around the Weber garden and pointed out the several daylily species that bloom later in the season.
“As we approach a yellow-colored species with particularly tall scapes that set blooms at eye level, he says, “To me, a daylily is something you should be able to view from all around your yard.”
He continues by describing how Dr. Arlo Stout created this specific type, called “Autumn Minaret,” in 1951. From the 1920s to the late 1940s, Stout founded and oversaw a sizable breeding program at the New York Botanic Gardens. Common names for him include the “The pioneer in hybridization who gave rise to the modern daylily is known as the Father of Modern Hybridization.
In many of Weber’s own hybrids, the variety “Autumn Minaret” is a favorite because of its extraordinarily tall scapes and later bloom time. The tall, beautiful plant towers over the surrounding vegetation and blooms from early August to mid-September for up to 6 weeks.
We then went to a plant Weber intended to pollinate. It’s a variety he created in 2018, appropriately dubbed “Autumn Queen,” which was created by cross-pollinating “Autumn Minaret” with another variety, “Autumn King,” which Stout created in 1956.
“We are at the best time for pollinating, so I’m delighted you stayed outside a little longer this morning. He observes as he carefully removes a stamen (the male plant part that produces pollen) off a nearby daylily bloom. He delicately dabbed the powdery pollen onto the pistil, the female organ at the center of a flower on a “Autumn Queen” plant, like he was using a tiny paintbrush.
When the blossom withers and is replaced by a little green pod in the following days, Weber should be able to determine whether his pollination efforts were successful. It’s possible that viable seeds are growing inside the pod if it stays attached throughout the ensuing weeks.
“Weber muses toward the end of our stay, “I basically do this out of interest in the science behind it, the real experimentation to uncover something new.
I can’t help but be in awe of the potential as I head out, passing rows of tiny daylilies that Weber has grown from seed he helped pollinate. What a fascinating study in plant genetics!
When do daylilies flower?
Hemerocallis, sometimes known as daylilies, are not genuine lilies. Daylilies are perennial plants that develop from underground root systems rather than rhizomatous bulbs. The majority of daylilies have six sepals, and the majority of them have six vibrant stamens in the flower’s center. Due of their dense and durable foliage, daylilies can be distinguished from genuine lilies by their strap-shaped green leaves.
Hemerocallis, the daylily’s botanical name, literally means “beauty for a day.” The majority of daylilies do have flowers that only endure for one day, however these hardy bloomers produce multiple blossoms on each scape or stem. Sun-friendly daylilies are a popular choice for landscaping because of their lengthy blooming season, simple maintenance, and disease resistance, as well as a superb quality for filling in sparse sections of the garden! With numerous doubled, ruffled, and variegated variations, these well-liked perennials can now bloom in almost any shade and color imaginable. In order to locate the ideal plant for your requirements and area, daylilies come in a variety of sizes, including miniature varieties, tall varieties, and everything in between.
How long before daylilies bloom? By combining early, mid, and late flowering kinds, you may extend the blooming period from May through September. Daylilies typically bloom in June or July. Some species bloom twice a year, once in the spring and once in the late fall. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a daylily out there that you’ll adore, we’re certain of it!
Does Illinois have a daylily culture?
Range & Habitat: Most counties in Illinois have reported seeing the introduced Orange Day Lily in the wild (see Distribution Map). This plant is fairly widespread and possibly more frequent than official data suggest.
How can you ensure that daylilies bloom all summer long?
To promote more blossoms, frequently deadhead daylilies. Every day, remove any spent blooms. After all blooms have vanished, cut the blooming stem back to the ground. Using sharp scissors or pruners is the ideal technique to deadhead daylilies because of their thick stems, as doing so risks snapping off any nearby blossoms.
When do daylilies bloom and for how long?
Daylily (Hemerocallis) is a remarkable and beautiful addition to the garden and is frequently referred to as the “perfect perennial” due to its many attributes, including showy flowers, a wide variety of vibrant colors, drought tolerance, immunity to heat stress, ability to grow in most hardiness zones, and low maintenance needs.
- Depending on the kind and your region, daylilies may bloom from early spring till frost. Their blooming period is only 1 to 5 weeks long. Extra Early: From March or April in the South to May or June in the North, these daylilies are the first to bloom. Early: Three to five weeks before the midseason blooming mass, these daylilies blossom. Early Midseason: These daylilies bloom one to three weeks before the majority of cultivars reach their peak bloom. Midseason: From May in the South to July in the North, these daylilies bloom at the height of the daylily bloom. Late Midseason: 1-3 weeks following the height or peak of bloom in your garden, these daylilies bloom. Late: These daylilies bloom 4-6 weeks after the peak of the season, after the majority of them have done blooming. Very Late: In the South, these daylilies often bloom in the late summer or early October.
- Many plants are “reblooming.” These daylilies have many blooms in a single season. Some of them bloom in the spring (for instance, in May or June) and then again in the fall. Others have a series of bloom periods that happen one right after another over the course of several months.
To promote new buds and reblooming, prune off the old daylilies’ blooms as soon as they start to wilt.
These attractive Daylily varieties are appreciated for their capacity to bloom again. Enjoy!
Planting Instructions
Daylilies need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight every day, thus they should be planted in full sun or mild shade. Even though daylilies require full sun, there are occasionally blossoms under the cover of large trees. The daylily blossoms will always face away from any shadow and upward toward the sky. Avoid high dry locations above ledges where the soil is shallow and low wet spots where water collects during rainy spells.
Any time the ground can be worked, whether it’s in the spring, summer, or fall, daylilies can be planted with great success. To avoid winter frost heaving, mulch should be applied to daylilies planted in the fall. We advise you to plant your daylilies as soon as you get them. The roots should be placed in water for an hour before planting, but, if they will be stored for several days.
Approximately the size of the pot, dig the hole. Remove the daylily from the pot, untangle the roots, and set it into the hole with the surrounding dirt tightly packed.
Until you are ready to plant, keep in a cool area. Roots should be soaked in water for an hour prior to planting if kept for several days. Create a hole and place a cone of earth inside. Cone-shaped roots should be spread out, and the crown should be slightly below ground. One inch of earth should be pressed down tightly around the plant’s crown. Give newly planted daylilies plenty of water.
The best soil is loose, loamy soil. Clay, gravel, and sand quality is very low. Compost, decaying leaves or wood chips, old manure, or almost any other organic substance can enhance poor soil.
If the daylily will be divided and replanted in a border of mixed perennial flowers in three to five years, leave a circle of 16 to 18 inches in diameter. It needs a 24–30 inch spacing if you plan to leave the daylily clump in place for 10–15 years. A border of daylily flowers follows the same rules. Daylily plants should be placed in a triangle configuration with each plant 24 inches apart from its neighbors in a landscape setting, such as a bank that will be covered in the flowers. 30 daylily plants will consequently be needed for a bank that is 100 square feet. (Add 0.304 to the square footage.) Plant the daylily seeds 12 to 18 inches apart in a straight line as an edging along a walkway.
Mulch between one and four inches thick will help keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing among the daylily plants. While grass clippings, leaves, hay, wood chips, and other organic materials are appropriate, their slow breakdown draws nitrogen from the soil. Particularly with recently cut wood chips, you might want to add some fertilizer. Daylilies planted in the fall should have a thick layer of mulch applied to the area the first year to keep the earth from freezing and heaving them out of the ground.
Plant nutrients are rarely insufficient in organic compost soil. Add any slow-releasing, composted organic matter, such as horse, sheep, or cow manure, or your own compost, in the spring or the fall to sustain good daylily growth.
Do daylilies bloom throughout the summer?
Daylilies (Hemerocallis), which are robust and versatile, are a feature of the summer garden. Plants continue to produce fresh flowers for up to four to five weeks even though individual blossoms come and go every day. Daylilies typically bloom from late June through July. However, numerous reblooming types are now available that bloom again in the late summer, significantly extending the growing season.
Today, daylilies come in thousands of different types and in every imaginable size, shape, and color. And the majority flower profusely. Multiple flowers can grow on a single stem. A mature plant can also produce hundreds of flowers in a single summer month.
However, maintenance-free does not always imply something is simple to grow. Daylilies can quickly amass a sizable number of wasted, wet flowers if left unattended. These decrepit blooms are not only ugly, but they also hinder blooming. This is why.
Which lilies grow naturally in Illinois?
In Illinois, Turk’s-cap lilies can be found everywhere. It grows in damp prairies and forests. From May to July, flowers are produced.
When can daylilies be transplanted in Illinois?
The greatest time to transplant daylilies is in the spring, when the shoots are just starting to appear, regardless of climate. Newly divided and transplanted plants benefit from cooler temperatures and light spring rains at this time as they begin to recuperate from transplant shock. Transplanting sooner rather than later enhances the likelihood that the plants will be able to recuperate sufficiently to bloom later in the season, however exact timing is not necessary.
Daylilies can be transplanted in the fall in the South (USDA growth zones 8 and higher). Wait till the summer heatwaves have passed at the end of September.
Are there lilies in Chicago?
How frequently have you heard that genuine lilies (Lilium) are hard to grow or poorly suited to the Midwest? Fortunately, these are just urban legends.
With some thought to their culture and selection, lilies, which are incredibly diverse, can thrive in this environment. They produce flowers that are 1 inch across to as large as a dinner plate, dazzle in colors of white, pink, yellow, orange, and red to violet, and have all kinds of freckles, lines, and spots to entertain your brain. They also continuously bloom in your garden from late May to early September, range in height from a diminutive 4 inches to a towering 8 feet, and fill it with spicy, sweet, or exotic scents.
Giving lilies lots of sunlight, adequate air circulation, and deep, well-drained soil is the easiest way to cultivate them. Add well-composted leaf mulch to your clay soil to increase nutrients and enhance drainage. Your lily bulbs will be protected from the winter cold and the summer heat by a top layer of mulch in your flower gardens. Bulb-grown lilies, such as daffodils and tulips, are best planted in the early to mid-autumn or in the spring. A decent rule of thumb is to plant lilies with twice as much soil above them as the bulb’s breadth, or 4 inches of dirt should be placed above a 2-inch bulb. In sandy soil, where drainage is not a concern, bulbs can grow deeper.
Lilies might not be the best choice for you if your soil is poorly drained or if hungry rabbits have taken over your garden. If not, plant some lily bulbs this fall and enjoy the display the following year.
Blooms in May In the Midwest, we can cultivate an incredible variety of lilies, with a different group on exhibit at each stage of the growing season. The graceful martagon lilies, which are among the most tolerant of shade, proudly display their little Turk’s cap flowers atop lovely whorled foliage on 3- to 4-foot stems in May. The choice “Claude Shride” is a renowned marque.
July Flowers A parade of Asiatic hybrid lilies and their parent species arrive in June. Try the species L. concolor or L. dauricum, which have upturned orange blooms, or the recurved glossy L. pumilum, which has orange to red flowers. If you prefer hybrids, L. ‘Latvia’ will enchant you with its deep violet speckling to the center of erect, yellow flowers. Or take into account “Tinos,” which features alabaster flowers with red and yellow centers. Atypical for Asiatics, Lilium lankongense hybrids like “Karen North” grow higher bloom stems with Turk’s cap flowers that are inclined downward.
August Blooms The tall trumpet lilies, which can grow to a height of 6 feet with ease and produce trumpet-shaped flowers in shades ranging from white, gold, and pink to violet, are the next in the July procession. Flowers have a mouthwatering aroma. Because this group is vulnerable to late spring frosts, bury the large bulbs deep in the ground to postpone emergence. Try the hybrids ‘Midnite’ (violet) or ‘Tropical Isle,’ or the species L. regale (white with a golden center) (yellow with a flame blush). One lovely species, L. henryi, starts producing Turk’s cap flowers in late July on arching stems that can grow to an amazing 8 to 10 feet in height, with orange or yellow flowers. The Aurelian hybrids are created when trumpet lilies are bred with L. henryi; they bloom a little later than the trumpets and have flowers that are starburst, trumpet, or bowl-shaped. The unbreakable “White Henryi” (white with a gold core) and the brilliant yellow “Louis XIV” are both excellent choices.
July Blooms The most exotic hybrids are the relatively new Orienpet varieties, which combine the stature and strength of trumpets with the spicy scent and late bloom of Oriental varieties. “Black Beauty” and “Scheherazade” are two classics with blossoms that are recurved and raspberry red in color. Try “Silk Road”/”Northern Carillon” (white with big raspberry cores) or the subtly beautiful “Conca D’or” for an amazing smell (cream with lemon yellow centers). The species L. speciosum, which has recurved flowers in shades of white, pink, or cerise and is also speckled and whiskered and frequently pleasantly fragrant, completes the parade in mid- to late August. ‘Uchida’ is frequently the final kind of lily to bloom.
Resources: At the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society holds two bulb sales, an annual show, and a winter lecture series. The international North American Lily Society holds an annual display, a seed exchange, and produces a number of top-notch publications.