Daylilies are a treat to use in the garden. They are a great no fuss perennial. They start blooming once the temperatures start rising. Daylilies are troopers; they tolerate the heat from our hot, humid summers very well. Many of us in Northern Virginia are familiar with the common orange Daylily that have naturalized along country roads.
Daylilies come in an array of colors and shapes. They come in all shades of pinks, yellows, oranges, pinks, purples and reds that one can think of and combinations. The throat of the flower can also be different color as well. The petals on the flowers vary from fat to thin as well as ruffled.
Depending on the cultivar they will flower throughout the summer, unlike a lot of the older cultivars that only bloom once during the summer. Some great repeat bloomer Daylilies are; Happy Returns, Apple Tart, Stella d’Oro, Pardon Me, Strawberry Candy. The key to getting the biggest floral show from these performers is to keep them growing vigorously, a little extra fertilizer and water is all it takes.
Almost all the Daylily plant is edible; tubers, foliage, buds and flowers. The most common part used is the flower bud. The buds are mostly eaten in salads. There are different recipes out there for pickling and sautéing.
As with many of the larger flower groups, the Daylily has many different societies. One of the societies we like is the American Hemerocallis Society. They publish a newsletter that you can sign up for. We are Region 3 which includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Though there are many different cultivars here are a few that we have growing in our gardens.
Key feature: Year Round Interest
Plant type: Perennial
Garden styles: Contemporary, Rustic, Country, English
Deciduous/evergreen: Deciduous
Cold hardiness zones:
Light needs: Partial to full sun
Water Needs: Requires regular watering.
Average landscape size: depends on cultivar
Growth habit: Upright
Special features: Showy flowers
Landscape uses: Border, accent flower
Flower color: Shades of white, pink, purple, red, yellow, and orange
Foliage color: Dark Green
