Daylilies

Garden Clippings for August 2, 2025

The summer flowering perennials in my backyard are in their full glory, delivering a riot of colour, fragrances, heights and textures.

Perhaps the most dependable mid-summer flower is the faithful Daylily, botanically called Hemerocallis. Daylilies are easy-to-grow perennials that are sure to satisfy gardeners who want carefree plants in yellow, pink, red purple, orange and bronze.

The original orange Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) that we often find growing in ditches and along roadsides is disappointingly not a native Ontario or Canadian wildflower but has origins in Asia. This common Daylily, often nicknamed Ditch Lily, has broad grassy stems growing to about 50 cm, with tall flower stems that can reach one metre.

All popular Daylilies are variations of a theme, so to speak, resembling Ditch Lilies in flower shape but have been hybridized for longer lasting blooms, improved size and a variety of colour. Almost all new varieties come from Holland, the county that is often considered to be the capital of horticulture.

Today’s most widely grown Daylily is ‘Stella d’Oro’, made popular because of its re-blooming habit. ‘Stella d’Oro’ grows to about 30 cm, has sulfur yellow flowers, blooming in late June or July and again in late August. Also popular is ‘Happy Returns’, similar but with lemon-coloured blooms. Gas stations, malls and big box stores will plant hundreds of these Daylilies because they grow anywhere without effort.

Modern Daylilies are found in a myriad of colours in patterns and shades far too complex to keep track of. Daylily snobs would be wise to join the American Daylily Society to explore and appreciate the complexities of many of the approximately 20,000 hybrids.

Daylilies like to grow in a sunny location but can tolerate half shade. Darker coloured Daylilies are more shade tolerant than lighter coloured hybrids. They have no fussy growing requirements, but appreciate well drained, rich, loamy soil. Give extra water in the first year of planting and they won’t need any attention in subsequent years.

Daylilies are tough as nails and will survive the coldest of winters. Fall clean-up is easy. Wait till after we get a few deep frosts and the grassy stems will easily be lifted from the roots. If you’d like to share Daylilies with a friend, dig up the clump, cut it into quarters with a sharp spade or knife, and the job is done.

Daylilies are pest-free, and not likely to be eaten by bunnies. Like many summer flowering perennials, Daylilies will attract hummingbirds and butterflies.