Orange daylilies are a beloved flower known for their vibrant orange blooms that bring pops of color to summer gardens. But when can you expect to see these showy flowers in all their glory? In this comprehensive guide we’ll explore everything about the bloom season of orange daylilies so you can plan your garden accordingly.
Overview of Orange Daylilies
Let’s start with a quick overview of orange daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva)
- Perennial flower in the lily family native to Asia
- Features grassy green foliage and trumpet-shaped orange blooms
- Each flower only lasts one day, but new blooms continually emerge
- Hardy in USDA zones 3-9
- Naturalizes easily by underground rhizomes
- Low maintenance and easy to grow
With their ability to spread readily and tolerate a wide range of conditions, orange daylilies are a great choice for landscapes, borders, and mass plantings. Their peak bloom time is highly anticipated by gardeners each year.
Typical Bloom Period
In most regions, orange daylilies begin blooming in early to mid summer. Here’s a more detailed look:
- Early summer: Early blooming cultivars emerge in May or even late April in warmer areas.
- Peak summer: Flowers are at their most profuse in June and July when conditions are ideal. This is the height of orange daylily bloom season.
- Late summer: Some cultivars extend the show into August or even early September before going dormant.
Depending on your climate and cultivar, you can expect anywhere from 4-8 weeks of flowers, sometimes longer. Daylilies bloom earlier in southern zones and cooler areas delay their bloom time.
Factors That Influence Bloom Time
Several factors can shift the bloom time of orange daylilies:
- Cultivar: Early, mid and late season cultivars have varied timing.
- Climate and weather: Cool springs or heatwaves affect bloom time.
- Sun exposure: Full sun encourages more blooms. Too much shade delays flowering.
- Soil conditions: Poor drainage or low fertility can inhibit blooming.
- Plant age and vigor: Younger or distressed plants may bloom later.
- Pruning and dividing: Can stimulate new growth and earlier blooms when done properly.
Paying attention to these elements will help explain seasonal variations in your daylilies’ bloom time.
Encouraging More Flowers
Here are some tips to maximize orange daylily blooms:
- Choose a sunny location with at least 6 hours of direct light daily.
- Amend soil with compost or fertilizer to improve drainage and nutrients.
- Water 1-2 inches per week, more in droughts. Avoid soggy soil.
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering.
- Divide crowded clumps every 3-5 years to rejuvenate plants.
- Select a mix of early, mid and late blooming cultivars to extend the show.
Proper planting, care and maintenance will help your orange daylilies put on their best floral display.
When to Plant
You can plant orange daylilies in either spring after frost danger passes or fall at least 6 weeks before first expected frost. This gives plants time to establish before winter dormancy or summer heat arrives.
For fastest bloom time from spring planted bulbs, choose early blooming cultivars. Fall plantings may not flower until the following year.
Signs of Late Blooms
If orange daylilies bloom significantly behind their usual schedule, look for potential causes:
- Extreme hot or cold temperatures
- Too much shade limiting sunlight
- Poor soil drainage or low fertility
- Young plant age preventing flowering
- Excessive dividing or pruning stressing plants
Evaluate growing conditions and adjust as needed. Daylilies should resume normal timing once environmental factors are optimized.
The Showstopping Orange Bloom Display
One of the best parts of growing orange daylilies is their reliable summer flowers just when gardens need a burst of color. With the right care and cultivars, you can enjoy these easy plants at their peak for months on end. Now that you know when orange daylilies bloom, you can plan your landscape to highlight their vibrant floral show all season long.
Don’t confuse Daylilies with the true lilies
Daylilies are not really “lilies.” In fact, they are quite different. As you know, true lilies grow on tall stems with flowers at the top. Daylily flower stems (called “scapes”) are generally much shorter, and grow from a fountain of grass-like foliage at ground level. By the way, even though the old reliable daylily is orange, dont call them “Tiger Lilies.” Thats the common name of an equally famous, old species lily—a tall true lily that is orange with black spots. No daylily is a Tiger Lily.
Daylilies are members of the genus, Hemerocallis, not Lilium, which is the genus name of true lilies. Hemerocallis is a combination of two Greek words meaning “day” and “beautiful.” This tells you the flowers last only one day and are beautiful. Few people realize the flowers fade so quickly, because as one fades, the next one on the stalk (or “scape”) opens, keeping a planting of daylilies in bloom for weeks, sometimes for months.
Easy, easy, easy to grow!
Everybody loves Daylilies because theres really no other perennial that adds more color with less work. They stay low, they grow almost anywhere with sun or some shade, they always bloom, and their fountain of foliage shades out any weeds close by. The only work involved may be dividing them every five years or so when the clumps become so leafy it inhibits the bloom. But many gardeners dont even do that. Of course, they respond to regular watering, careful preparation of great soil, careful division as needed, and proper doses of fertilizer. So if youre a meticulous gardener, you can make them shine like no other group. But if you ignore them, theyll bloom well for you, too.
When Do I Divide My Daylilies (And How Do I Do It?) | Oakes Daylilies
FAQ
Do orange daylilies bloom all summer?
While individual orange daylily flowers last only a day, the plant as a whole blooms for an extended period, typically from early summer into the first frost, according to plant information sites.
Why are my orange daylilies not blooming?
Common Reasons Why Daylilies Aren’t Blooming
One of the most common reasons a Daylily may not flower is if the plant has outgrown its space. If you suspect your Daylilies are crowded or root-bound and need room to spread out, dig up the plant and divide it.
What time of year do orange lilies bloom?
Orange Lilies typically strut their stuff in the summer months. Unlike their citrus tree cousins, which bloom based on stress factors like temperature and water, Orange Lilies follow a more predictable pattern. Expect a burst of color when the heat kicks in.