Daylilies are a mainstay in gardens around the country, and for good reason. They are versatile, easy-going, and absolutely beautiful. Plus, they offer quite a bit of usefulness in the garden (more on that in #2). They are so widespread and well-known across the country that many people have written them off as common, albeit beautiful, plants.
The truth is, these gorgeous perennials are far from ordinary. Monrovia has the dirt on why these perennials are much more interesting than you think below.
By the way, there are tons of bonus facts sprinkled throughout the post; can you find them all?
1. Daylilies Are One of The Most Adaptable Plants in the World
Did you know that daylilies are one of the most adaptable flowering plants in the world? There are daylilies that thrive in zones 2 through 11. Many varieties are happy in Zones 4-11, which is a larger range than most perennials. Daylilies are very cold-hardy, as well as heat-tolerant.
On top of being adaptable to temperature ranges, they thrive in a wide variety of climates. They’re a great choice for hot, dry climates, as well as cool, moist ones.
And soil conditions? Daylilies are happy in almost all of them. From heavy clay to fertile loam to dry low-fertility soil, daylilies can thrive in surprising places. You’d be hard-pressed to find a plant that performs so well in such a wide array of soil and climate conditions.
2. Daylilies Provide Excellent Erosion Control
Daylilies to the rescue! Not only are they a low-maintenance and beautiful perennial, but they are also quite useful in a tough spot. Many daylily varieties spread easily and are used as colorful groundcover and weed control.
Plus, the thick tubers of daylilies form a dense web underground that holds soil in place, even on steep slopes. Their thick, tuberous roots spread out like strong fingers and keep a tight grip on soil in nearly any location.
You can use practically any variety of daylily to act as a soil stabilizer, but the steepest slopes might call for the tawny daylily, hemerocallis fulva, which naturalizes easily in zones 3-9. This is the most widespread variety in the wild and can often be found growing happily on old homesteads, roadsides, and alleyways.
3. Daylilies Look Amazing in Containers
Did you know that daylilies make great container plants? You’re not alone if this daylily fact comes as a surprise. Most of us have only ever seen daylilies as a cornerstone in the garden. But their laid-back nature and dependable bloom also make them great for container plantings.
The long, grass-like foliage cascades over the sides of containers, the tall wands of the flowers add height, and their dense growth habit perfectly fills a container. These aspects make them spectacular thrillers, fillers, and spillers all at once.
The key to showcasing daylilies in containers is matching the type with the proper pot size. Dwarf daylilies will require containers between 12-15″ in diameter, while larger varieties require containers up to 24″ wide.
4. There Are Over 80,000 Varieties of Daylilies
Daylilies are native to almost the entire Asian continent. By the 18th century, they made their way to Europe and quickly became popular with plant enthusiasts there. European immigrants brought daylily tubers with them to the New World and the flowers naturalized in their new home by the early 1800s.
A hundred years after daylilies were brought to America, botanists (including the daylily-breeding pioneer from Wisconsin, Arlow Stout) were experimenting with developing hybrids from the wild varieties that had taken hold around homesteads. The incredible adaptability and dependability of daylilies led to extensive breeding over hundreds of years.
Now, over 80,000 varieties of daylilies are said to exist, with more being developed every year.
5. Daylilies are Not Actually Lilies
There is still a lot of confusion floating around out there about where daylilies belong, but the fact is that they are not actually lilies! Daylilies are in the genus Hemerocallis, which is a member of the family Asphodelaceae, and subfamily Hermocallidoideae. True lilies, on the other hand, are in the genus Lilium, family Liliaceae, and subfamily Lilioideae.
So, when you’re shopping for daylilies, you’ll notice that all of the botanical names will start with that genus name “Hemerocallis,” no matter the type. You know you’re looking at a true lily if the botanical name starts with “Lilium.”
It’s also important to note that this is where some confusion about the edibility of daylilies comes into play. True lilies, in the genus Lilium, are quite toxic to humans and animals. Whereas the widespread orange daylily, Hemerocallis fulva, has been known to be edible for generations.
6. Daylilies Are Drought Tolerant
There are not many waterwise perennials out there that have the lush foliage and abundant bloom of a daylily. When you browse daylily varieties, you’ll notice that every single one is designated as having “low” water needs.
If you live in an area that experiences consistently dry summers or occasional droughts, adding some daylilies to your garden is a smart move. They provide dependable color and verdant foliage through even the hottest, driest summers.
The key to Daylily’s water thriftiness is once again its tuberous roots (see #2), which can store enough nutrition and moisture to get it through periods of drought.
7. And They Also Don’t Mind Getting Their Feet Wet
It’s true that extended periods of overwatering can lead to root rot in daylilies, but considering how waterwise these plants are (see #5), it’s amazing how well they do in wet conditions. Usually, plants with low water requirements despise getting their feet wet. Not so with the daylily.
Don’t write off the daylily if you live in an area with consistent summer rain or an area that experiences its share of soggy conditions. Most varieties hold up well in these conditions and will thrive with the extra water.
Daylilies are a great choice for adding a punch of color to water-side gardens like the one pictured here. Plus, they will provide the erosion control many water-side locales require (see #2).
8. There Are Reblooming and Everblooming Varieties
Daylilies get their name from their flowers, which typically bloom for a day before being replaced by a new one. Most varieties have a flush of flowers in the summer and bloom for about a month. But new varieties break all the rules.
Reblooming daylily varieties, like Happy Returns Dwarf Daylily, have two periods of bloom. Usually, reblooming varieties will bloom through late spring or early summer, stop blooming and then bloom again in late summer or early fall.
Titan Skye™ Daylily is a particularly robust bloomer, with flowers that last up to ten days, and blooms that just keep coming. Everblooming (aka continuous blooming) varieties like Skye™ and Endlesslily® produce flowers continuously throughout the spring and summer, with no pause.
These extended-bloom varieties offer a solution to the short bloom time of other daylily varieties and provide more color in the garden for far longer.
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