Daylily of the Week
STAY TUNED! Our Daylily of the Week will be back in February!
What Daylilies Can I Grow?
It's pretty simple: most of you can grow any of the daylilies we sell. If you live in an area with sustained cold like we do in East Tennessee, you can grow all the varieties. If you live in an area that doesn't get freezing weather in the winter, dormant varieties won't work for you. As a result, far southern growers need to choose evergreen or semi-evergreen varieties.
Can I Grow Daylilies in the Deep South?
You can grow daylilies in the Deep South, but you can't grow every variety we carry. You'll need to choose either evergreen or semi-evergreen varieties. Dormant varieties like to have a cold period in the winter when they go dormant. If they don't get this cold period, they will decline over time. You can search and shop daylilies by foliage type on our site.
Will Daylilies Bloom in the First Year?
The plants we ship are blooming size. But the likelihood of blooming in the first year will largely depend on planting time. The earlier in the season you plant, the more likely you'll see blooms in the first year. Just be sure to wait until the risk of frost has passed in your area. Typically if you can plant by early to mid April, you'll have a good chance at seeing blooms that year. It's not guaranteed, but it does increase your chances.
What Does Dormant, Evergreen, and Semi-Evergreen Mean?
This refers to the foliage. Dormant daylilies prefer a cold period in the winter when they can go dormant (the foliage dies back to the ground). Evergreen daylilies try to grow leaves all year long, and semi-evergreen daylilies are somewhere in the middle. If you live in an area with cold winters, foliage type won't matter because all the plants will get frozen to the ground.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Daylilies?
Spring and fall are both great times to plant daylilies. But many gardeners can plant right through the summer without any issues. At our nursery here in Tennessee, we usually plant daylilies from March through October. Planting as early as possible in spring will give you a better chance of blooms in the first year. If planting daylilies in the fall, be sure to get them planted at least 3-4 weeks before your average first frost date.
What Are Reblooming Daylilies?
Reblooming daylilies will flower multiple times throughout the growing season, typically in early summer and again later in the season. Unlike traditional daylilies that bloom once and they're done for the year, rebloomers can produce new blossoms after the initial bloom cycle. Reblooming daylilies allow gardeners to enjoy colorful flowers for a longer duration.
Do I Need to Divide My Daylilies?
Daylilies do not need to be divided each year. If you notice that your daylily plants are not blooming as well several years after planting, you may want to divide them. Some varieties may benefit from division every 3-5 years while other varieties will be fine without it for much longer.
Will Daylilies Grow in Shade?
Daylilies thrive in sunny conditions which promote healthy foliage and strong blooms. While they can tolerate partial shade, their flower performance may be slightly compromised. We recommend planting daylilies in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. A sunny garden bed will provide the best environment for these perennials.
Do I Need to Fertilize My Daylilies?
Daylilies will benefit from a high-nitrogen fertilizer applied in the spring and fall months. While daylilies can grow in a wide variety of soil types, they'll perform best when fertilized twice a year. We recommend our special blend of Oakes Daylily Fertilizer to keep your plants happy and blooming longer!
Are Daylilies Planted from Bulbs?
Daylilies are not planted from bulbs, but rather from bare root plants or divisions. Unlike "true lilies" (Lilium species) which grow from bulbs, daylilies (Hemerocallis species) have fleshy roots that store nutrients. Daylilies are planted by placing the root system in the soil, ensuring the crown is just above ground level.
Can Daylilies Be Grown in Areas with Severe Winters?
Most daylilies will perform fine in areas with really cold winters, especially if there is consistent snow cover (which helps insulate the plants). Some of the most challenging places to grow are areas that get cold winters with little snow cover. Areas with wide temperature swings in the spring can also make things a little more difficult for daylilies. If we find a daylily variety that isn't very cold hardy, we'll discontinue it.
What Does Diploid and Tetraploid Mean?
This refers to the number of chromosome sets – diploids (dips) have 2 of each chromosome, tetraploids (tets) have 4 of each chromosome. Tetraploids may have a “huskier” appearance, with thicker blooms and stems, but it isn’t always apparent just from looking. This is mainly just an issue if you are interested in hybridizing daylilies (crossing to make seeds), as you can only cross diploids with diploids and tetraploids with tetraploids.