How to Grow Daylilies

Daylilies are among the most carefree and easy-to-grow perennials. They are very tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and are very forgiving of gardening "mistakes." But it really pays to give your daylilies the best growing conditions possible. They will respond accordingly.

Botanical information

Hemerocallis are in the lily family. Some botanists consider them to be more closely related to amaryllis. They differ from lilies somewhat because they do not grow from true bulbs. The flowers are borne on leafless stems.

Daylilies are hardy, herbaceous perennials having clumps of smooth, grasslike foliage (Figure 1). Narrow, heavily-ribbed leaves are long and two-ranked, forming regular fans. Certain varieties are referred to as evergreen because a portion of the foliage remains green throughout the winter. Others are completely deciduous. Slender flower stalks called scapes grow upright and arise from the lower portion of the crown. Scapes usually extend above the foliage, branch near the top, and bear clusters of lily-like flowers.

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