Daylilies are perennial plants with lily-like flowers in colors ranging from cream, yellow, orange, gold, maroon, pink, wine and near black to purple and all shades in between. Foliage is sword-like and is described as being deciduous or evergreen. The deciduous types lose their foliage in the winter while the evergreen type retain it providing it is not killed by cold temperatures. Many new hybrids possess characteristics of both types causing their performance to vary in different parts of the country. The primary way of distinguishing between species, varieties and/or cultivars is the height of flower scape, color and shape.
Daylily stature is determined by the height of the flower scape. They are classified as low if under 24 inches, medium if the scape is 24 to 36 inches and tall when over three feet. Daylilies are classified as miniature with blooms under three inches in width, small-flowered (three to four inches) or large-flowered (over 4.5 inches).
Dwarf daylilies have been developed and are separated from the miniatures by the size of their flowers. Dwarfs are short in stature with flowers ranging from miniature to large size; miniatures always have flowers three inches or less in width.
Flower shape may be described as flat, round, triangular, recurved, tubular, orchid-shaped or spider. Color patterns may be selfs (all one color), bi-tones, bi-colors, reverse bi-colors, eyed and haloed. Plicatas are a recent innovation involving the banding of the flower on the petal or sepal tips.
Individual plants flower for 3-4 weeks with new flowers appearing daily. Varieties may flower beginning in early spring through September. Catalogs identify the flowering times for most varieties. The flower lasts only for a day and the seed pods develop over several weeks.
The root system is fibrous and may develop finger-sized tubers. The seeds develop in small oval-shaped pods; they are black in color and about the size of corn seed.
CULTURE AND MAINTENANCE
Daylilies need a fertile, well-drained soil and full sun (preferably six to eight hours per day). Fertilization with a 5-10-10 fertilizer in early spring along with year-round mulching is also recommended. These plants are described as being easy to cultivate, versatile, tolerant and hardy. Little weeding is needed after the plants are established since their leaf mounds shade the soil, thus limiting weed growth. Daylilies do well in partial shade. These plants should be spaced two to three feet apart, and can be grown in any soil that isn't too dry. Daylilies are almost indestructible and can be transplanted any time but fall or
