Daylilies | A Lovely, Low-Maintenance Perennial

Common daylilies are stunning flowers in their own right and are also very adaptable to most surroundings. Once established they are drought tolerant, have very little pest and disease problems and will bloom in the summer and multiply each season. Most varieties of daylily flowers will bloom continuously from morning to dusk throughout the season and can be found in a variety of colors and hues. Variations of yellow, gold, orange, red and deep purple are most common and can be grouped and planted to enhance the visual interest of landscapes, adding beauty and texture as well as fragrance. When daylilies are planted in varied color schemes and graduated heights, they make a stunning focal point, requiring little to no maintenance. They are also particularly appealing as rock wall and fence edging, where they tend to draw the eye to desired areas effortlessly. Daylilies grow from a thick root system where they store food while dormant in the winter months. Their roots also act as an energy source when stressful situations such as drought, extreme heat and other weather problems occur throughout the year. The time to plant daylilies in New England is in the spring. Choose an area that receives direct sunlight in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon. Lilies should be planted in the ground approximately 4 inches deep. To ensure rapid growth and spreading of the lilies once they begin to grow, plant them in clusters of 4-6 rather than singularly, with the roots facing downward. Avoid planting wrinkled, shrunken and/or dry and shriveled roots. Cover thems with nutrient rich soil and leave 12-18 inches of space between clusters for anticipated spreading of the lilies as they multiply. Keep the soil moist but not soaked until the lilies become accustomed to the new environment—approximately two weeks. If the planting area you have chosen is sandy, add composted organic matter to amend. Avoid planting lilies under trees that will block sun from reaching the plants. After the growing season has passed in the late fall, cut down the bloom and stem area to within a few inches of the ground to avoid extra clean up from the previous year’s bloom in the spring. By the next spring the daylilies will be back and better than ever in full bloom and hardy clusters.