If we were to name plants that are tough as nails, then only a few can beat daylilies because they always come back year after year. Daylilies are incredibly hardy plants; they are drought-tolerant, even if they are still in their early stages. They can put up with a few weeks, and you can guarantee that you get fresh blooms every day. If you have a spot in your garden that seems like no plant has thrived well, we suggest that you plant daylilies on them. In this article, we are going to talk about the things that you need to know in order to grow these lovely summer-blooming perennial flowers.
What Types of Daylilies Should You Plant?
Daylilies come in a wide range of shades, shapes, and textures. Some daylilies have ruffled petals, some have smooth leaves, and some varieties have long and strappy petals. This perennial flower typically grows in USDA Hardiness zones three through nine, and most of them usually start to bloom from early to mid-summer. Please take note that each bloom only lasts a day, which is why they are called daylilies. On the other hand, its overall display of flowers can last for several weeks, and some types of daylilies have the ability to bloom all summer long. The daylily plant can grow from two to three feet tall, and it can grow up to two feet wide. Aside from that, most types of daylilies are fragrant.
Here are some varieties that you can try:
- Going Bananas – This is a type of daylily has bright yellow flowers that can bloom all summer.
- Orange Smoothie – This daylily variety is very fragrant. It has a mango color along with a pale rose stripe.
- Nosferatu –This type of daylily blooms a purple colored flower that has chartreuse throats.
Where Can I Purchase Daylilies?
You can find daylilies at garden centers and nurseries which sell daylilies from spring to fall. If you want to have a more extensive selection of types and colors, we suggest that you look for online sellers. We recommend that you look for daylilies that have bright green leaves and no red or orange spots on its leaves because these spots can be a sign that they may be infected with daylily rust, which is a fungus which sporadically affects them. Daylilies are usually sold in pots, but some retailers sell bare-root daylilies, which means it doesn’t come with any soil.
When is the Right Time to Plant Daylilies?
Preferably, the best time to plant daylilies is during spring or fall because this is the time when the temperatures are just right, and there is always a high chance of rainfall. However, as we mentioned, daylilies are super-hardy, which means you can even put plant them in the ground during the heat of summer; all you have to do is make sure that you water them every day. Not because they are low-maintenance plants means that they need no maintenance at all.
How to Plant Daylilies
Another reason why you should have daylilies in your yard or garden is that they can handle any types of soils as well. This means that you don’t have to worry if you have harsh garden conditions such as sandy soils. Please take note that daylilies prefer full sun, so you need to find a place in your garden where it gets at least six hours of direct sun every day. Remember that daylilies don’t bloom well when they are in the shade.
When planting daylilies, we suggest that you dig a hole that is slightly larger than the pot, after that, place the plant in the hole with the same level as the plant was in the pot. If you are planting bare roots daylilies, you first spread out its roots, then fill it in with soil. Water them for the first few weeks up until you see that they are already established. Keep in mind that they don’t need any fertilizer, but it’s okay to add a balanced slow-release granular type to give them a little boost.
How to Care for Daylilies
As we mentioned, daylilies are low maintenance plants, which means that they don’t need that much care and attention. This is also the exact reason why you should plant them if you want to see colorful blooms in your garden, but you are not into fussy plants. The hardest part that you will be doing when planting daylilies is to be patient. This because it tends to get bigger and better every year. You can remove the spent blooms if you want, but that won’t guarantee you that the daylilies will bloom more as compared to some other plants.