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Daylily
Hemerocallis
Daylily blooms from June through August.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Daylily
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. Expect it to reach about 2.6 ft tall and 2 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Daylily
Plant Daylily in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from June to August.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Comes in 15 varieties across 6 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Daylily
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Highly toxic to cats: any part, even the pollen, can cause fatal acute kidney failure, the same effect true lilies have. Not toxic to dogs. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
Each flower opens and dies in one day, which the name Hemerocallis ('day beauty') records. But a scape carries many buds, so a clump blooms 30 to 40 days. per NC State and Clemson
How much sun it needs
Some sources call part shade fine; bloom-focused ones want 6 to 8 hours of sun. Plant in full sun for flowers; dark cultivars need afternoon shade for color. per Missouri and Clemson
Thrives on neglect
One of the toughest perennials grown: salt tolerant, drought tolerant once established, and forgiving of dry or wet spells. NC State reports no serious pests or diseases. per NC State and Missouri
Daylily rust
Daylily rust shows as orange pustules on leaf undersides. Lead with sanitation: buy clean stock, inspect undersides, avoid overhead watering, clear dead foliage. Fungicides only supplement. per Clemson and Penn State
Stella de Oro does both
'Stella de Oro' is both a top reblooming daylily and one of the few cultivars with moderate rust resistance, so one choice buys longer bloom and less rust. per Clemson and Plant Disease
Draws pollinators, but deer browse
Flowers feed butterflies and hummingbirds, and daylilies suit butterfly and children's gardens. Note that NC State flags them as frequently damaged by deer. per NC State
What pairs well with Daylily
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Candytuft
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 10 in, for the front of the border.
Bergenia
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Pampas Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 8.2 ft, for the layer behind it.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; stands well above at 20 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
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