By Marc Hess, Editor of Gardening South Texas
“Daylilies provide maximum color to the landscape with a minimum amount of effort. Blossoms now come in pink, purple, red, peach, apricot and all shades in between, including dramatic color combinations. Petals may be ruffled, twirled or flecked with eye-catching glitter called “diamond dust.”
~Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
Daylilies have been called America’s favorite perennial because of their carefree garden beauty. They tolerate our drought, heat, cold and floods. Feed them or not, they’ll still bloom for you. Even when they’re not in bloom, they make great border plantings or “frames” for other plantings. You will find that daylilies are prolific and colorful bloomers. Few pests show any interest in them. They will grow in sun or shade, dry or wet soil, can tolerate both flooding and drought, and produce beautiful flowers throughout Texas. You can find tiny flowers and large flowers, compact plants and tall plants. You can even create your own varieties with relative ease. Daylilies require good drainage; they will rot if they are planted in a spot where they constantly have wet feet. Plant only to the base of the crown, the area above the roots on the plant where it is white in color and gradually goes to green.
For best growth and bloom of your daylilies, select a location that has full morning sun and some protection from afternoon sun. All-day sunshine in Texas is hard for most plants to take, and daylilies appreciate afternoon shade. April is a good time to plant one of the easiest to grow and compost are all good organic amendments for your daylilies and will keep them at the peak of health. Be careful not to mulch heavily around the crown of the plant to avoid rotting and maintain air circulation. In the spring, a good blend of fish emulsion and seaweed is a fine tonic to get them growing.
Daylilies grow from fleshy roots below ground with fans of leaves above ground, coming together at the crown of the plant. From the crown, flower stalks (scapes) will emerge in May and June, bearing typically 10 to 20 flower buds. Though each flower is only open for one day (thus the name), the buds will take turns opening, resulting in weeks of garden color. And many cultivars send up repeat scapes into June, July and August.
Using Daylilies As Cut Flowers
Daylilies can make nice cut flowers, especially the heirloom types. Individual flowers last just one day, but buds will continue to develop and open for up to a week indoors.
➢ The trick is to cut daylilies with buds that are just about to open, with a bit of the flower color showing. The higher up buds will open as the bottom ones fade.
➢ As soon as you get the flowers inside, trim the stem ends an inch or so, making a diagonal cut with a sharp knife.
➢ Change the water every few days.
➢ Remove the faded flowers daily and new buds will open.
Dividing And Transplanting Daylilies
Daylilies can be aggressive spreaders and will likely require dividing at some point (usually every 3 to 5 years). In addition to controlling their spread, dividing will also reinvigorate plants, resulting in better and more frequent blooms. To propagate them, divide the daylily clumps in early spring (February through April) or in the late summer to fall after flowering (late July through mid-September) prior to the autumnal equinox. The plants need at least six weeks to get re-established before winter.
Here’s how to divide daylilies:
➢ Though dividing can be done any time the soil is workable, it is best done right after the daylily has finished blooming. Note: Remember, the plants need at least 6 weeks to get re-established before winter.
➢ Dig up the entire root clump.
➢ Remove as much soil from the roots as possible. Soaking the roots in a bucket of water helps to get rid of excess soil.
➢ Locate the crown of the plant. Starting from the outer edge, break it into smaller clumps (usually 3 to 4 per plant). Each clump should have healthy roots and at least a few leaves.
➢ Cut the leaves back to approximately one-third of their original length (5 to 6 inches, generally).
➢ Then replant and water thoroughly.
With minimal care, you can look forward to an amazingly colorful perennial! There are thousands of beautiful daylilies to choose from.