As a passionate gardener who’s grown daylilies for over 10 years, I’ve experimented extensively with using these beautiful blooms as cut flowers. While they have some unique characteristics to consider, daylilies can definitely add a stunning element to your floral arrangements. Let me share everything I’ve learned about using daylilies as cut flowers!
The Good: Why Daylilies Can Work as Cut Flowers
Impressive Visual Appeal
- Come in vibrant colors – yellows, oranges, pinks, reds, and purples
- Casual, rustic appearance with ruffled/curled petals
- Create beautiful wildflower-style arrangements
- Multiple buds open in succession on each stem
Practical Benefits
- Low maintenance plants that are easy to grow
- Drought and heat tolerant
- Resistant to most pests and diseases
- Can provide continuous blooms throughout season
- Some varieties offer lovely fragrance
The Challenges: What to Watch Out For
Limited Vase Life
- Individual blooms last only 24 hours
- Cut stems typically look good for 3-4 days max
- Need daily maintenance to remove spent blooms
Structural Issues
- Thin stems that tend to droop
- Stems kink easily when bent
- May need extra support in arrangements
Other Considerations
- Most varieties close up at night
- Limited stems per plant during bloom cycles
- Plain foliage doesn’t enhance arrangements
- Many varieties lack strong fragrance
Pro Tips for Using Daylilies in Arrangements
Best Practices for Cutting
- Cut stems in early morning when buds start opening
- Select stalks with multiple unopened buds
- Make clean 45-degree angle cuts
- Remove leaves that will sit below water line
- Place immediately in clean, cool water
Display Tips
- Use low, wide vases for better support
- Add flower food to water
- Change water daily
- Re-cut stems every 1-2 days
- Keep arrangements away from direct sun
- Remove stamens to prevent pollen stains
Best Varieties for Cutting
I’ve found these varieties work particularly well:
- ‘Hyperion’ – Fragrant lemon yellow, stays open later
- ‘Pandora’s Box’ – Reliable rebloomer
- ‘Royal Occasion’ – Strong stems, good vase life
How to Make the Most of Daylily Arrangements
Companion Flowers
Mix daylilies with
- Alstroemeria
- Roses
- Carnations
- Snapdragons
These sturdier flowers help support daylily stems and create fuller arrangements.
Creative Display Ideas
- Float single blooms in shallow bowls
- Create casual wildflower-style bouquets
- Use in rustic centerpieces
- Combine with grasses and foliage
My Personal Experience
In my garden I’ve dedicated a special cutting bed just for daylilies. While they require more maintenance than some cut flowers I love their cheerful colors and informal charm. The key is managing expectations – don’t expect long-lasting formal arrangements, but embrace their ephemeral beauty.
Final Thoughts
So, do daylilies make good cut flowers? Well, it’s complicated! While they have some drawbacks, daylilies can absolutely work in the right context They’re best suited for casual arrangements where you’re willing to provide daily care. With proper handling and realistic expectations, these lovely blooms can bring joy to your indoor spaces.
Looking to try daylilies as cut flowers? Start with just a few stems and experiment with different varieties and arrangement styles. You might just discover a new favorite for your flower-cutting garden!
Remember: The beauty of gardening is in the learning process. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best in your specific situation!
Want more gardening tips? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear about your experiences with daylilies as cut flowers!
Daylilies are great for landscaping
They make a showy perennial. Since ‘Hyperion’ is purportedly a rebloomer (giving two bloom periods a year) this makes it an even more useful for perennial beds.
It’s often said that they are deer resistant. I’ve tried that. My foliage didn’t get eaten but the flowers did. So I grow mine inside the deer fence. Your deer may be different. Ours are facing drought challenges, so the deer pressure is high.
Sources for ‘Hyperion’ Daylily plants
And there are many other sources of daylilies.
Drool-Worthy Double Daylilies
FAQ
Do daylilies make good cut flowers?
Each flower blooms for only one day, which is why daylilies do not make good cut flowers. The name Hemerocallis comes from the Greek words “Hemera,” which means day and “kallos,” which means beauty. The flowers are borne on thin stalks, or scapes, that grow from the base of the plant. The scapes may be multi-branched.
When do daylilies bloom?
From the end of May until the beginning of August, I am in daylily heaven. In May, I watch the progress of the first daylily bud in the garden as it appears and begins to swell.
How tall do daylilies grow?
Daylilies can grow up to 4 feet tall. Daylilies also grow from thick, tuberous roots that are easily divided. Daylilies are popular with hybridizing breeders, and there are over 30,000 named varieties. Each flower blooms for only one day, which is why daylilies do not make good cut flowers.
What is the best time to enjoy daylilies?
Outdoors their strappy foliage holds no charm for me, and since they must be grown in full sun, the daylily garden in June and July is hot—too hot to linger over each fabulous blossom. But if you bring the flowers indoors, you can enjoy the daylilies up close and often.
Do daylilies wilt?
An arrangement of all daylilies can be fabulous. Adding a few on their stalks to an arrangement with other flowers can be fabulous too. And when I see the very last daylily wilt, I feel as sad as I do when I take my last look at the ocean when I leave the beach.
Do daylilies have leaves?
The leaves are a dead giveaway as to which plant you have. Daylilies have long, flat strap-shaped blades that grow in clumps from the crown of the plant, at the soil line. Daylilies can grow up to 4 feet tall. Daylilies also grow from thick, tuberous roots that are easily divided.