HEMEROCALLIS
DAYLILIES SPECIALIST MAIL ORDER
DAYLILY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
WHAT ARE DAYLILIES? -
Hemerocallis (or Daylilies as they are more commonly known) are a wonderfully versatile species, growing even under the most extreme conditions. Their beauty is quite exceptional and the varieties appear in many different colours and forms. They have become a centrepiece to many a cottage garden and modern planting scheme alike.
They look equally good in natural planting schemes such as the popular Prarie style and also in more formal settings. They are also architechtural and lend structure to the border.
The name Hemerocallis is derived from the Greek for “beautiful for a day”. Each flower lasts for just a single day but every plant bears so many flowers that another one soon replaces it. Well-established clumps can flower prolifically for many weeks and sometimes over several months; reblooming is very common among Daylily varieties.
Close relations of the Hemerocallis are Orchids and Hostas and they are in the Lily family (Liliaceae). They originate from Northern Asia,
It wasn’t until the 1920s that the botanist Dr A B Stout started his work categorising and hybridising Hemerocallis. They are now collected and hybridised all over the world by enthusiasts; the total known varieties exceeds 45,000 from 20 different species.
WILL THEY SURVIVE THE WINTER? -
Daylilies are among the hardiest species of plant and have been known to survive recorded temperatures of minus 50 degrees F in The USA.
WHAT TYPE OF ASPECT DO THEY LIKE? -
They can be planted in full sun or semi-shade but require sun for at least 6 hours a day otherwise they may not perform as well as they should. Too much shade results in too few and smaller blooms on 'leggy' foliage.
WHAT KIND OF SOIL DO THEY ENJOY?-
Daylilies enjoy neutral to sllightly acidic soil and will grow well in this PH. As with most plants, if your soil has a high clay content then the addition of organic material and some sharp sand will be beneficial (this will open-up the structure allowing air to circulate and for excess water to drain); if your soil is very sandy, the addition of organic material will aid with the conservation of water and nutrients. In dry areas, a top=dressing of organic mulch will help prevent evaporation of soil water thus cutting down on the need for watering excessively.
DOES THE SOIL NEED SPECIAL TREATMENT PRIOR TO PLANTING?-
Dig the area down to about a spade's depth adding any recommended organic material or sand. A small amount of well-rotted manure covered with a layer of soil in the planting hole will also encourage deeper rooting.
CAN I PLANT THEM NEXT TO LARGE TREES/SHRUBS?-
This is not recommended for any plant as large trees and shrubs 'rob' the soil of essential nutrients and water.
WHEN CAN I PLANT MY DAYLILIES?-
Here in The UK, I have successfully planted Daylilies at all times of the year providing the ground isn't frozen. Preferably, plant at least 1 month prior to the hardest frosts; this will mean the soil is warm enough for the plant to settle down. In hotter parts of Europe where the ground doesn't freeze, Daylilies will continue to grow throughout the winter and thus can be planted during the colder months. When the weather is particularly hot, it is not advisable to plant your Daylilies and any you have bought would be best left in pots of well-watered compost in the shade until the heat subsides.
HOW DO I PLANT THEM?-
The spacing between each plant should be approximately 12"-18" apart. For an instant effect, plant identical varieties in groups of 3 in a triangular shape (this will give the impression of a well-established group). Place the Daylily in the planting hole so that the roots are evenly spread and pointing downwards. Make sure the crown of the plant is about 1" below the soil surface when the hole is filled in. Don't plant any deeper than this.
DO THEY NEED A LOT OF WATER?-
Plants love water, it is their essential requirement for converting the sun's rays into 'plant food'. Daylilies will perform excellently when they receive all the water they need. Don't over-water however as this can result in the plant literally drowning from a lack of oxygen in the soil (anaerobic conditions).
WHAT FERTILIZER SHOULD I USE?-
Bigger and stronger plants with better blooms will result from good feeding. Proprietory 'all purpose' plant feeds are fine but I prefer to use a dressing of NPK (Growmore) with a light covering addition of well-rotted horse manure (don't allow it to touch the plants, though). I also make use of the Nettles that grow in my garden by adding them to water butts and allowing their nutreints to be used when watering (an old gardeners' method, tried and tested). It isn't neccessay to feed plants during their dormant season however.
DO THEY GET DISEASES?-
With proper care, disease should be avoided but isn't always possible. Rust is a common fungal disease which can be caught by Daylilies; it won't kill the plant but will make it look unsightly. Most fungal disease is spread by overhead watering in hot weather and I find it is best to only water at ground level during the summer as this prevents water from splashing soil-borne diseases onto the plants. Always remember not to water when the weather is hot as it is a pointless exercise due to evaporation. Water your plants when the sun has gone down.
CAN I MAKE MORE PLANTS FROM MY DAYLILIES?-
Daylilies are easily divided during the autumn and spring; do this by digging up a whole clump of plants using a garden fork. Shake off the excess soil and then pull the individual plants apart. These are easily identified as Daylilies form many new plants within a single group. Plant each 'new' Daylily straight away after allowing the 'injured' parts to dry. Each plant will treble in size in average year and this will give you lots to swap and share with your friends.
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A DAYLILY CALLED?-
The following diagram shows the parts of the Daylily plant:
More information about Daylilies is available at Wikipedia (the free online encyclopeadia) CLICK HERE
The free gardening advice service has had to be suspended due to a deluge of unsolicited ''spam' emails being sent via the online form, please accept my apologies.
