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Daylily (Hemerocallis spp. and hybrids) is one of the most popular garden plants to grow, and for good reason. This reliable flowering perennial produces elegant grass-like foliage and showy trumpet-shaped blooms in a range of colors, sizes and forms. Daylily colors occur in nearly every hue except for true white and blue, with long flower stems that can reach up to 5-feet tall.
The individual flowers of daylilies bloom for just a single day—hence the common name—but the leafless stems, known as scapes, produce multiple blooms on each stem over several weeks. This long-lived herbaceous perennial grows in most regions, remaining semi-evergreen in milder climates. Daylily needs minimal care once established, making it a good choice for low-maintenance borders, beds and containers. Here’s how to grow and use them in your landscape.
Daylilies are one of the most popular perennial flowers grown in gardens across the country. Their big, bright blooms provide gorgeous color from early summer through fall. Many modern daylily hybrids are repeat bloomers meaning they can bloom repeatedly over an extended period. With proper care, certain daylilies like Stella D’Oro can produce flowers continuously from May all the way until frost.
Here are some tips to keep your daylilies flowering prolifically over the entire growing season
Choose Reblooming Varieties
Opt for repeat blooming daylily cultivars that are specifically bred to bloom repeatedly over a long period, rather than just once a season. Some excellent reblooming options include:
- Stella D’Oro – lemon yellow
- Happy Returns – bright yellow
- Rosy Returns – rosy pink
- Pardon Me – cherry red
- My Melinda – peach shades
Avoid once-blooming daylilies that only flower for a couple weeks then are done, Focus on rebloomers for nonstop color in the garden
Provide Consistent Moisture
Daylilies bloom best when grown in moist, consistently damp soil. Allowing plants to dry out will slow down flowering. Water reblooming daylilies deeply at their roots about 1-2 times per week during the growing season, depending on rainfall. More frequent watering may be needed in very hot, dry conditions to maintain moist soil. Daylilies in containers need more frequent watering than in-ground plants – check soil daily.
Deadhead Spent Blooms Frequently
Removing old blooms before seed pods form redirects the plant’s energy into producing more flowers instead of seeds. Deadhead daylilies by snapping off spent flowers right behind the wilted bloom. Make deadheading a habit and remove faded blooms every 2-3 days throughout summer. Consistent deadheading keeps plants looking attractive and yields the most repeat blooms.
Apply Balanced Fertilizer
Fertilizing daylilies encourages vigorous growth and prolific blooming. Use a balanced 10-10-10 or similar fertilizer. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer once in early spring when growth resumes. Supplement with a second application 4-6 weeks later to support summer long blooming. Always follow package directions and do not over fertilize, as this can damage plants.
Divide Overcrowded Plants
Mature daylily clumps over 5 years old will bloom less without division. In early fall, dig up congested daylily patches and replant individual fans spaced 15-24 inches apart. Dividing overgrown daylilies rejuvenates the plants so they bloom better next season. Immediately water and fertilize divisions to help them establish before winter.
Provide Full Sun Exposure
Daylilies thrive best in a full sun location with at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Insufficient sunlight leads to reduced flowering and weaker, floppy growth. If your daylilies are not blooming well, try moving them to a brighter, unobstructed spot. South or west facing garden beds work perfectly for sun-loving daylilies.
Prune Foliage After Blooming
Pruning daylily leaves about halfway down after the initial spring bloom period leads to better reblooming. Removing some foliage reduces the plant’s energy going to vegetation so more is directed to flower production. Never prune leaves before blooming since this is where energy for the initial flower set is stored. Avoid cutting all the way to the ground as some leaves are still needed for rebloom energy.
Control Pests Promptly
Insects and diseases will quickly sabotage daylily blooming performance if not managed early. Aphids, thrips, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and daylily rust are common problems. Inspect plants frequently and use organic insecticidal soap, neem oil, or other remedies at the first sign of pests. Rapid action prevents infestations from escalating and disturbing flowering.
With excellent care and maintenance, your daylilies will keep the garden filled with flowers summer through fall. Just be attentive to their needs for ample moisture, fertility, sunlight and pest control. Let these tips guide you in growing daylilies that bloom prolifically all season long.
Do daylilies come back every year?
Daylily plants are reliable hardy perennials that will survive for many years. Divide daylily clumps every few years to extend longevity.
Do deer eat daylilies?
Deer will graze on daylily foliage, particularly new spring growth. They may also nibble on flowers. However, these plants are resilient to deer browse and should recover. If you live in a deer-prone area, use protection or repellent.
Daylilies form dense root clumps that will expand as plants mature. Clumps should be divided every few years for the best flowering.
How to prune Daylilies to keep them blooming all Spring and Summer!
FAQ
How do I get my daylilies to bloom all summer?
Reblooming daylilies flower continuously, more or less all summer long. The keys to keeping rebloomers blooming are watering and deadheading.Apr 19, 2019
How do you get reblooming daylilies to rebloom?
By deadheading, you’re telling the plant to make flowers, not seed. Depending on the variety, a quick snip encourages the plant to send up new stems and buds. This is especially true for reblooming varieties like Happy Returns, Rosy Returns and Pardon Me.
How do you prune daylilies for more blooms?
To encourage more blooms on daylilies, prune spent flowers and seed pods regularly during the growing season and trim back foliage in late fall or early spring.