Looking for a low-maintenance summer blooming perennial? There is a reason daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are so popular with home gardeners, landscapers and amateur breed
Low maintenance, heat tolerance, shade tolerance and a wide variety of flower shape and color make the daylily a good choice plant for many different garden situations.
Daylilies get their unique common name because each individual flower lasts for only one day, although the flower show can continue for 4-12 weeks depending on the cultivar.
Hardy in zones 3-9 (check specific cultivar information) daylilies are perennial plants that do best in full sun but can tolerate part shade. The grass-like foliage of the is glossy green, lends a vertical accent to the garden and is evergreen or semi-evergreen.
It is the beautiful daylily flower that gets the most attention however, and rightfully so. From skinny, twisted petals called “spider form” to wide, ruffled “tetraploid” form daylily flowers come in a variety of shapes and styles.
The flowers of this perennial plant also come in a variety of colors as well! My personal favorites are bi-colored daylilies with petals in one color and contrasting color in the throat of the flower. There are daylilies with one solid coloration, three colors blended together, or stamens (the part of the flower that holds the pollen) that are a contrasting color as well. The possibilities are nearly endless and as a result many amateur flower hybridizers experiment with breeding daylilies.
Whether your goal is to add some easy, bright color to a tough garden spot, or you want to try your hand at more advanced gardening techniques like hybridizing, the summer blooming daylily might be just the plant for you!
