Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 34: Daylilies

Why do these stalwarts of the perennial garden get such a bad rap?

Truth time: We feel pretty “meh” about daylilies. However, there is no denying that they are tough, low-care plants that have lovely large blooms. They are also relatively disease-free and can grow in a myriad of places. But for some reason they never seem to make our heart skip a beat when we’re shopping at the nursery. Perhaps it’s because certain cultivars (we’re talking to you, ‘Stella Doro’ and ‘Happy Returns’) have been so overused in commercial landscapes that they ruined it for the whole genus. In this episode, we put our preconceived notions aside and delve deeper into daylilies, revealing several cultivars that not only are beautiful but are worthy of a spot in your borders.

Expert testimony: Nikki Schmith, Past President of the American Daylily Society

 

 

 

Steve is partial to red daylilies with a touch of yellow, and for that reason ‘Baja’ (Hemerocallis ‘Baja’, Zones 3–9) is at the top of his list. The blossom size is fairly impressive, too, at nearly 6 inches across.

 

Although ‘Blueberry Breakfast’ (Hemerocallis ‘Blueberry Breakfast’, Zones 3–9) isn’t a true blue, it is best described as a “slate-lavender” hue in catalogs. It tops out at 22 inches tall and wide, so be sure to give it some room to shine.

 

Daylily flowers come in a surprising array of shapes as well as colors. Several of Danielle and Steve’s favorites have spiderlike blooms, including ‘Lady Fingers’ (Hemerocallis ‘Lady Fingers’, Zones 3–9), a name that seems to refer to the long yellowish cookies, not human hands.

 

Confused about which of the thousands of varieties to try? Danielle recommends trying ‘Try It’ (Hemerocallis ‘Try It’, Zones 3–9), perhaps the best name/choice for a hesitant gardener.

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Comments

  1. DaylilyGirl1 03/24/2019

    It's 'Stella de Oro', not ‘Stella Doro’. The Online Daylily Database will help you spell names correctly: https://www.daylilies.org/DaylilyDB/

  2. plantchik 03/28/2019

    Would love more information on re-blooming Daylilies.

  3. MonicaMills 06/16/2021

    These flowers are blossoming very nicely are I am feeling their fragrance as well. Nature is at its best this spring as a granary and colorful flowers are providing a fantastic view to all of us and providing peacefulness. Now I have to find reviews about the EduBirdie before hiring an online writer to assist me in the research paper that I am writing on Daylillies flowering plants.

  4. KatlynBauch 11/29/2022

    Daylilies are one of the most popular perennials in gardens and borders. They are also very easy to grow, requiring little attention and little care once they've established themselves in the garden. I will read best online resume services reviews now. Daylilies come in a wide variety of colors and shapes, so there's bound to be one that appeals to you. The best thing about daylilies is that they can be used as annuals or perennials, depending on your needs for the year.

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