Daylily is native from Europe to China, Korea, and Japan. They are adaptable, vigorous perennials growing from a height from eight inches to five feet tall.

 

Daylily plant produces an abundance of flower buds that open over a long period of time. The flowers have 3 petals and 3 sepals that look like petals. Flower size can be as small as two inches or as large as eight inches. There are many varieties, a wide range of flower colors; they flower in every shade except blue. The flowers continue during the heat of the summer. The flowers though live for just 1 day, the established daylily grows many scapes (flower stems) that produce a profusion of buds that keep the plants in bloom for weeks. The scape is a leafless stalk, which bears the flowers.

 

The plants are stronger with lots more flowers over a longer period of bloom. Daylilies occur as a clump including leaves, the crown, and the roots. The long, often linear lanceolate leaves are grouped into flat fans with leaves arching out to both sides. The crown of a daylily is the small white portion between the leaves and the roots, an essential part of the fan. Along the flower stem or scape, small leafy "proliferations" may form at nodes or in bracts

 

Daylilies adapt to a wide range of soil and light conditions. They establish quickly, grow vigorously, and survive winters with little or no injury. Give them full sun, at least six hours of sun a day. If you plant them in too much shade, you'll get more leafy growth with fewer flowers.

 

Daylilies are useful in the perennial flower border, planted in large masses, or as a ground cover on slopes, where they form a dense mat in just a few years. They serve as specimen plants, daylilies excel at providing splashes of color in shrub borders and perennial flowerbeds. They also make excellent ground covers on slopes, where they can provide erosion control. They look particularly nice planted against fences, decks or patios, steps and even driveways. The flowers of some species are edible and are sold (fresh or dried) in Asian markets as golden needles

 

Did you know?

·        An individual daylily flower generally only lasts for one day, thus the name daylily.

·        This Greek word is made up of two parts: hemera meaning day and kallos meaning beauty.