Daylilies are one of the most popular garden perennials. Their easy care and beautiful flowers make them useful in most gardens. Thousands of varieties are available and new varieties are released every year. The scientific name for daylily is Hemerocallis, which means “beautiful for a day” in Greek. The name accurately describes the one-day bloom period of individual flowers. Learn more about growing daylilies in your garden from questions answered by horticulturalists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Daylilies are popular perennial flowering plants that brighten up any garden with their colorful blooms and lush foliage. They are easy to grow hardy and adapt to a wide range of climates and soil conditions. But did you know they are also one of the easiest plants to propagate? Propagating daylilies allows you to multiply your favorite varieties and share them with gardening friends. In this guide, we’ll walk through the simple process of propagating daylilies through division and seed starting.
Why Propagate Daylilies?
There are a few key reasons you may want to propagate your daylilies:
-
Make more plants – Increase your supply of favorite varieties to expand plantings.
-
Share with others – Give divisions to gardening friends and family.
-
Control size – Dividing overgrown clumps keeps plants blooming vigorously.
-
Revitalize plants – Division rejuvenates old plants and encourages more flowers
-
Save money – Home propagation is cheaper than buying new plants.
-
Grow new varieties – Start seeds and see what interesting hybrids develop.
How to Divide Daylilies
Dividing mature clumps is the easiest way to propagate daylilies identical to the parent plant. Follow these simple steps:
When to Divide
Divide daylilies in early spring as growth resumes or late summer after flowering. Spring divisions may not bloom that first year but will be established for the following season. Fall divisions often bloom lightly the next summer and vigorously thereafter.
Digging Up the Plant
Carefully dig up the entire clump using a garden fork, loosening the soil 6-12 inches out from the base. Try to keep the root mass intact as you lift it. Gently remove excess soil clinging to the roots.
Separating the Fans
Look for natural divisions where clustered fans meet at the crown. Gently pry the clump into smaller sections along these intersections using two forks back-to-back if needed.
Preparing Divisions
Trim each fan grouping to 4-6 inches tall to reduce transplant stress. Inspect and trim any damaged roots before replanting. Consider dipping cut ends in rooting hormone.
Transplanting
Space divisions 12-18 inches apart in prepared soil. Plant the crown 1 inch below the surface. Water thoroughly after planting and provide consistent moisture until established.
Growing Daylilies from Seeds
Though less certain, growing daylilies from collected seeds can yield exciting new flower hybrids. Follow these steps:
Collecting Ripe Seeds
Allow spent blooms to dry on the scape after flowering completes. Mature seed pods will eventually split open revealing shiny black seeds inside.
Preparing and Storing Seeds
Clean and thoroughly dry seeds before storage. Place in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for 1 month to mimic winter chilling.
Sowing Seeds
In late fall or very early spring, sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep in seed starting mix. Provide bright light and consistent moisture.
Transplanting Seedlings
Once seedlings reach 2-3 inches tall, harden off and transplant into the garden after the last spring frost, spacing 12 inches apart. Bloom time is longer, in the 3rd season.
Enjoying the Surprises
Remember, seeds produce random hybrids, unlike division. Flower color, form, size and bloom time will vary unpredictably! Watching them develop is an exciting journey.
Tips for Division Success
Follow these tips when dividing daylilies for the best results:
-
Use a clean, sharp knife or pruners to minimize injuries.
-
Divide when plants are dormant in spring or fall.
-
Keep divisions moist and water thoroughly after transplanting.
-
Add compost and fertilizer to planting holes to support growth.
-
Allow divisions to establish for 1-2 seasons before allowing to bloom.
-
Site in full sun and amend soil with organic matter for optimal flowers.
The Reward of Home Propagation
What types of daylilies can be grown?
There are over 100,000 registered cultivars of daylily, showing significant diversity. Their flowers, borne above grass-like leaves, range from 2 inches to over 12 inches in diameter on stalks (called scapes) 15 to 60 inches tall. Flowers vary in shape from trumpet to star to triangular and come in every color except true white and blue. Some have attractive eyes and throats, often with fragrance.
While individual flowers last only one day, each scape has many blooms, and each plant produces many scapes, allowing for a succession of blooms over three to four weeks. While most bloom early to mid-summer, some cultivars start blooming as early as late May, and others start later but stay in bloom until frost. Reblooming cultivars bloom for 10 weeks or more. Proper variety selection will allow flowering from spring until frost.
Daylilies usually have 22 chromosomes and are referred to as diploid. Tetraploid cultivars have double the number of chromosomes. In most cases, the chromosome number is important only for those interested in plant breeding. However, many tetraploid cultivars have flowers that are larger and more intensely colored than diploid cultivars. Most varieties with ruffled or frilled petals and bold colors are tetraploid.
How do I care for daylilies?
Daylilies are low-maintenance, thriving in full sun or partial shade. Pastel varieties should be placed in partial shade to prevent bloom fading. They tolerate a wide-range of soil conditions but prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Avoid excessive fertilizer to prevent abundant foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Clean up dead foliage in late fall, and remove damaged or yellow foliage and spent blooms and scapes throughout the season.
Daylily Growing Guide! How to Plant, Grow and Divide Daylilies // Bare Root Daylilies
FAQ
Can you propagate daylilies from cuttings?
Seeds resulting from evergreen parents can be, directly sown or, handled and stored the same as described above for seeds from dormant parents (Benzinger, 1968; Munson, 1989). Dividing the daylily clumps by pulling or cutting apart is the most common form of daylily propagation.
How to get a start from a daylily?
Just dig out the whole plant, split it right down the middle using a knife, or even just a sharp shovel will work and then replant. So that’s it for daylilies. Some watering, fertilizer once a year and then cleanup in the early spring and you’ll have beautiful blooms for years to come.
How to propagate daylilies?
Propagation of daylilies is quite simple. Suitable methods of propagation are division of the plant and propagation by seed. Division of the root ball leads to varietal propagation. To do this, it is best to dig up the rootstock in early spring and cut off part of it with a sharp spade. After that, plant it in the desired place.
When should I plant daylilies?
The best time to plant Daylilies is in the late spring or early fall (several weeks before the first anticipated frost). Do Daylilies spread?
Can you grow daylilies from seeds?
Daylilies can be grown from seeds that are purchased or harvested from daylilies growing in your garden. Plant these seeds in a deep pot with clean soil, ensuring moisture is present. If you plan to harvest your own seeds, it is important to remember that the plants you grow from seeds will likely not be exact replicas of the parent plant.