Flower growing guide
Daylilies
Hemerocallis spp.
Sun
Full sun
Season
Warm
Maturity
60 to 90 days
Water
Low
Soil pH
6.0 to 8.0
Spacing
18 to 24 in
Planting daylilies
Plant divisions or bare-root starts in spring or early fall. Set the crown about an inch below the surface and water in well.
Planting details
- Spacing: 18 to 24 inches for mature clumps
- Divisions often bloom their first summer
- Reblooming types flower on and off for months
Growing requirements
Daylilies take full sun to light shade and almost any soil with drainage. They handle drought, neglect, and poor soil better than most perennials, which is why they edge so many roadsides and parking lots.
Harvesting and care
Remove spent scapes for looks; each flower lasts a day but new buds keep opening for weeks. Divide crowded clumps every 4 to 5 years when the bloom count drops.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering and overfeeding a plant that wants neither
- Planting crowns too deep, which reduces blooming
- Judging the show by one flower; the buds keep coming over weeks
Companion plants
Daylilies hold a border beside coneflowers, salvia, and ornamental grasses, and their arching leaves hide dying spring bulb foliage.