DAYLILY Facts

COLORS

Yellow, orange, red, pink, coral, bicolors

LIGHT

Partial shade to full sun

SOIL

Rich, well drained

WATER

When soil becomes dry

pH

5.5 to 6.5

HARDINESS

Very cold hardy and tolerant of summer heat

TIP

When planted near daffodils, daylilies hide the bulb foliage as it yellows in late spring

DAYLILIES

Dependable and enduring, daylilies are anchor plants in any perennial garden. Early summer is the beginning of their flowering period, which can stretch on for weeks if you plant a mixture of early, midseason, and late-flowering selections. The green foliage persists well into fall, all the while enriching the garden with its texture.

In some sites, daylilies will flower well for years without dividing. However, depending on the climate and the vigor of the selection, you may need to divide your daylilies every three to four years to ensure the heaviest possible bloom. Dig clumps anytime they are not in flower, pull or cut them into smaller clumps of two to four plans, and replant them where you want them.

In some sites, daylilies will flower well for years without dividing.

FERTILIZING DAYLILIES

Newly planted daylilies will respond to a starter fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as Vigoro® Starter Fertilizer to help establish a good root system. In 4 to 6 weeks, follow with a longer lasting plant food such as Vigoro^® Timed Release Flower and Vegetable Plant Food to feed steadily and encourage vigorous growth for several months.

In following years, begin fertilizing established daylilies when new green leaves appear in early spring. Sometimes daylilies sprout early, but do not fertilize them until after the last hard freeze has passed. Established plants prefer more phosphorous to encourage blooms; this is available in products formulated specifically for perennials such as Vigoro^® Timed Release Flower and Vegetable Plant Food.

Sprinkle fertilizer on the soil around plants, scratching it into the ground, if possible, and then mulch over the area. Where summers are long and the soil is sandy and porous, fertilize daylilies again in late summer. This is especially important with some of the newer re-blooming daylilies, which need extra nutrients to produce a second flush of flowers in early fall. Apply fertilizer according to label directions and water in thoroughly, or apply just before a heavy rain. Although quite tolerant of drought, daylilies will bloom best if they have adequate water.

After two or three years you will need to divide daylilies because they do not bloom well once they become crowded. Replant the divisions, give away the extras, and feed the divided daylilies as you did when they were new.

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