Even yet, most gardeners prefer to include a range of other perennials to liven up their perennial beds, even though daylilies can be used to create a beautiful long-blooming perennial garden.
Daylilies can be an excellent center of attention or a vibrant accent among a variety of other plants. What an accent, too.
400 flowers may be produced by a well-established daylily clump in just one season! Each plant can flower over a 4-5 week period, or even longer for the everbloomers or rebloomers, depending on the variety you select. That adds a lot of color to your perennial bed, I must say.
You will constantly have vivid bursts of daylily color popping up in your garden, first here, then there, always changing, always delightful, if you carefully choose your varieties and position them throughout your bed.
You will struggle to make a decision because there are so many fantastic perennials for the sun garden that work perfectly with daylilies! If you plant wisely, you can make a garden that is vibrant from the first days of spring to the end of the season, with thrilling new and unusual blossoms popping up every month. Simply stroll through the Viette’s display gardens once every two to three weeks to observe how these lovely pairings produce a dynamic, constantly-changing scene throughout the season in a thoughtful perennial garden.
Make sure to select perennials that can flourish in bright shade or full sun when choosing partners for your daylilies. To have vibrant blooms throughout the year, choose a mix of perennials and shrubs that flower in the spring, summer, and fall. Your garden will come to life with the flitting of butterflies and hummingbirds thanks to the magnificent daylily companions Echinacea, Perovskia, Achillea, Coreopsis, Phlox, Salvia, and Buddleia. Daylilies look amazing against decorative grasses.
Don’t restrict yourself to merely get color from flowers. Consider the stunning seasonal color provided by foliage. Finding perennials with foliage that nearly matches every shade of perennial bloom doesn’t need much searching! A few examples include the brilliant silver of Artemisia ‘Silver Mound,’ the stunning silvery blue of Perovskia (Russian Sage), the reds, yellows, and blues of Sedums, and of course, my personal favorite, the wonderful Heuchera. Heuchera ‘Caramel’s’ vibrant apricot leaves are eye-catching on their own, but when there’s even the slightest breeze, flashes of ruby red from the undersides of the leaves add an entirely new level, like dancing “Rockettes” flashing their petticoats! Many other Heuchera varieties’ vibrant leaf offers comparable “surprises” of unexpected color, but that’s a whole other tale.
How many daylilies can you plant in a single planting?
I had a variety of roles as a founding worker at Gardener’s Supply over the years. I currently run my own business, which is called Johnnie Brook Creative. A huge vegetable garden, a seasonal greenhouse, a cutting garden, perennial gardens, a rock garden, a shade garden, berry plantings, numerous container plants, and a meadow garden are among the gardens surrounding my Richmond, Vermont, home. The garden is the only place I would rather be. Check out this Garden Gate magazine video interview from January 2021 if you’re interested in learning more.
The daylily is the only perennial that can be considered a “guaranteed thing.” They do well in zones 3 to 9 (from Minnesota to Florida), can survive a wide range of soil types, are unaffected by diseases or pests, and consistently bloom for years with hardly any care. Hemerocallis, the daylily’s botanical name, literally translates to “beauty for a day,” and in fact, the majority of daylily flowers open in the morning and wither by dusk. The plant blooms for several weeks because each flower stem, also known as a scape, often bears at least a dozen flower buds.
Daylilies, unlike the majority of perennials, can be used in a variety of ways in the garden and landscape. The shorter, more compact kinds grow nicely when planted straight into perennial borders, where their blossoms provide the landscape a much-needed lift in the middle of summer. Daylilies are best planted in groups of three or five for landscapes, especially when combined with tiny shrubs and decorative grasses. Daylilies make the ideal plant for mass plantings along fences or walkways since they create a weed-free display that is thick and attractive.
What annuals complement daylilies well?
The yellow daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus ‘Stella D’oro’) is the most popular variation, but there are also pink, purple, orange, red, and cream varieties.
The daylily can range in size from 8 inches to 5 feet in height and width, and it needs full sun and acidic soil to thrive.
Choose companion plants for daylilies that can thrive in comparable growing conditions.
Avoid surrounding daylilies with taller plants, since this will provide too much shade and limit the growth of the sun-loving daylily.
Daylilies will bloom all through the summer and into the fall, so pairing them with vibrant companion plants will give your landscape a constantly shifting color palette.
Varied colors and sizes for every use!
Daylilies are wonderful additions to any landscape because they require little care and do return year after year. Use them throughout the landscape as ground covers, to hold banks, as borders along fences and walkways, and in beautiful beds. Additionally, they make lovely containerized displays!
Low Maintenance, Beautiful Plants!
Daylilies are a fantastic plant, as you are undoubtedly already aware if you have ever planted them. They must rank among the easiest plants to grow—hardy perennials that need minimal care and rarely suffer from pest or disease issues. Naturally, there is a huge selection to pick from. blooms come in a wide range of colors, sizes (2–10), and shapes—from perfectly spherical to doubles to spiders. There is a place for a daylily in every yard because they are useful as both specimens and mass plantings!
There are countless colors and varieties of daylilies. This is why choosing daylilies that bloom and rebloom at various times will allow you to extend the color in your landscape throughout each season! Planting your daylilies in groups of the same variety will ensure that they bloom at the same time and will have the biggest impact on the landscape.
Can you grow lilies among other flowers?
Lilies complement other plants perfectly and contribute to the creation of stunningly gorgeous garden combinations. Lilies enjoy the company of nearby plants such as annuals, perennials, bulbs, grasses, or shrubs as they maintain their foliage and gorgeous flowers in the air and sunlight while appreciating some shade around their roots. However, in order for your lilies to flourish, a few guidelines must be followed.
- Select shallow-rooted plants as your friends because lilies thrive with them and the shallow roots also serve to keep the roots cool. Annual plants typically have shallow roots. Peonies, irises, and columbines are a few examples of perennials with shallow roots that go well with lilies.
- Select low-growing companions: Tall plants should not be placed next to lilies since they will shade the plants and diminish the amount of blooms that are produced.
- Extending the blossoming season of your mixed border by underplanting your lilies with a succession of flowers can enhance the brilliance of their magnificent blossoms. Start by planting low-growing spring bulbs like narcissus, crocus, grape hyacinths, scillas, and snowdrops. When your Lilies aren’t blooming their best, they will add color to your borders. In the early spring, before the majority of the lilies bloom, there are a lot of fascinating bushes. Later in the season, these Lilies will guarantee a fresh resurgence in these garden areas. Asters and Chrysanthemums will add color in the late season and cover the base of your lily stalks as they decompose.
- Lilies require a lot of space to mature correctly and dislike intense competition. It is advised to surround them with non-aggressive, non-invasive plants. The plants shouldn’t be too near to them.
- To avoid fungus infections like botrytis, make sure you maintain sufficient air circulation.
- There are many different types of companion plants that will enhance your lilies’ best features and coexist in harmony with them in their environment. The ornamental shrubs, perennials, annuals, and grasses you choose should have the same growing conditions as your lilies. Some types of lilies prefer some shade, but most lilies grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Most lilies thrive in slightly acidic soil, while some are ineligible in extremely alkaline soils.
- The choosing of companion plants should take texture, color, and form into consideration. Blue and purple-flowering perennial plants make excellent neighbors because of the colors lilies typically possess (yellow, pink, orange, red, and white, with all the potential hues in between) (Salvia, Echinops, etc.). The beauty of LiLies can be well emphasized by plants with gray leaves (such as Artemisia, Stachys byzantina, etc.) or deep green ferns.
When paired with brown-leaved shrubs like Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’ and Cotinus coggyria ‘Royal Purple’ or shrubs with blue flowers like Caryopteris clandonensis, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Coelestis’, and Ceanothus ‘Gloire de Versailles,’ lilies always provide a striking contrast.
You can match your lilies with a wide variety of companion plants, so you’re sure to find a few combinations that will improve your landscape and catch your eye!
Oriental Poppies
Bearded Iris do not have the deep bright red blossoms like Oriental Poppies possess. They make ideal mates because they are tall and showy and have comparable demands. Use scarlet flowers for a splash of brightness, red Oriental poppies for a calming effect, or peach-colored flowers for a delicate appearance. Plant other perennials in front of them to disguise the withering leaves since they will die back in the summer. Plant perennial oriental poppies or oriental poppy seeds (plants available seasonally).
Lupines
With their tall, vibrant stalks of durable flowers, lupines will assist in giving your iris a wonderful wildflower appearance. The flowers of lupine blossom in the spring and come in both warm and cold tones. Consider growing lupine plants or seeds (plants available seasonally).
Allium
Alliums, which range in height from small to very tall, add a sculptural element to the garden. They are long-lasting pollinator favourite and simple to grow. Choose medium-height Allium and plant them in a straight or defined pattern for a formal appearance. Tall Allium planted liberally throughout a perennial garden create wonderful garden features with a whimsical character when used in an informal setting. Allium bulbs for fall planting come in pink, blue, white, yellow, or traditional purple (bulbs available seasonally).
Delphinium
Larkspur (Delphinium), which has magnificent towering wands, makes a wonderful companion plant for bearded iris. Purple, blue, pink, and white hues make for a stunning backdrop for a late spring display. Plant perennial delphiniums or rocket larkspur seeds (plants available seasonally).
Baptisia
Baptisia, often known as Indigo, is a fantastic option for yellow- and blue-hued fabrics. Try pairing blue, white, or gold iris with yellow baptismia. With Bearded Iris in blues, purples, or other contrasting colors, blue flowering Baptisia looks wonderful. Plant baptismia plants or indigo seeds (available seasonally).
Peony
One of the most popular perennials with spring blooms is the peony. Peonies make a great Bearded Iris companion because of its dark green foliage and blossoms that open to a luxuriant, fragrant, and long-lasting flower. Although they take time to develop, these long-lived plants can endure the appropriate conditions for decades. Check out our assortment of bareroot peonies (available seasonally).
Daylilies
A simple-to-grow option to complement Bearded Iris is daylilies. Additionally, the long, strappy foliage of these plants adds depth to a garden. Even some of them rebloom with Bearded Iris. View our available daylilies here (available seasonally).
Salvia
With its vibrant, long-lasting flowers that draw a wide variety of pollinators, salvia will give a splash of color to the border of your iris garden. Usually has flowers that are dark purple or red. In a formal environment, you can make a lovely border; in an informal one, plant them in groups of three or five for a more natural appearance. Salvia, a plant also known as Sage (plants available seasonally).
More Bearded Iris!
More Bearded Iris can extend the blooming season and bring a rainbow of hues, patterns, and textures to your existing bed thanks to their diverse range of colors, sizes, and bloom dates.
Remember to include some late-season bloomers like Agastache, Aster, and Salvia if you have a reblooming variety.
And most importantly, enjoy yourself! Experiment Sometimes breaking the rules is vital. Pay attention to the vegetation as well. With its upright foliage, Bearded Iris brings a lovely vertical feature to your garden.
Can daylilies be planted closely together?
Daylilies thrive in areas with six or more hours in direct sunlight each day. In extremely hot areas, some midday shade is beneficial. Although they may withstand some shade, fewer flowers should bloom.
Daylilies do well on healthy garden soil. Remove any rocks or debris and soften the soil to a depth of 18 inches before planting. Add some compost to your sandy soil if it tends to dry up quickly to help it maintain moisture. Additionally, compost will lighten the texture of heavy clay soil, which will make it easier for your young daylilies’ roots to expand and flourish.
Daylilies eventually grow to form substantial clusters that can reach a diameter of three feet. Therefore, you can prevent having to dig and transplant your new plants as they grow in by initially spacing them two feet or more apart. Place your new plants approximately 18 apart, though, if you want more impact in the first few years. The plants can then be moved outside after a few years.
Planting Season: You can plant daylilies in the early spring or the early fall (at least one month before you expect a hard frost).
When planting, dig a hole that is about one foot deep, loosen the dirt to a diameter of two feet, and then fill the center of the hole with soil.
- With the bulbous roots angled outward and slightly downward, position the plant’s crown in the middle of the mound.
- Add soil around the roots gradually, carefully tamping it as you go to remove air pockets.
- Water everything thoroughly after it is two-thirds full of the hole and once more once the soil has been added.
- The crown after planting should not protrude more than an inch below the soil’s surface.
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.