Family: Hemerocallidaceae
Common Name: Day Lily

These perennials from eastern Asia, China and Japan are very popular plants because of their abundance of showy, funnel-shaped, lily-like flowers in summer. While individual blooms last for only a day, one cluster may be in bloom for weeks during summer. The long, narrow leaves are a pale green colour. Day lilies have been extensively hybridized and many cultivars are now available. Some are evergreen, others are completely deciduous in winter. There is a great range of plant sizes, from tall to dwarf forms. Flower size varies too.

Species

H. aurantiaca, zone 6, to 1 m (3 ft), produces clumps of foliage, above which rise orange-yellow flowers on long stems.

H. citrina zone 4, reaches just over 1 m (3 ft) and bears fragrant, lemon-yellow blooms.

H. fulva, zone 4, has been cultivated for centuries and has produced many cultivars, including 'Fiore Pleno' which grows to 1 m (3 ft), with double, brilliant orange flowers, marked with dark brown.

H. middendorffi, zone 5, to 30-45 cm (12-18 in), has sweetly scented, deep yellow flowers.

H. minor, zone 4, is a dwarf species, with fragrant reddish brown flowers, coloured yellow inside.

H. thunbergii, to 1 m (3 ft), pro­duces fragrant, bright yellow flowers. Many hundreds of named cultivars of Hemerocallis are available with flowers in all shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, brown and purple. Most are hardy in zone 6.

Cultivation

Day lilies are fairly hardy and most can be grown in full sun all day. Brightly coloured varieties should be planted in half-shade to prevent the flowers from fading. None, however, should be grown in full shade. Plant in autumn or spring in soil enriched with manure.

Established plants are fairly drought-tolerant but will be better with some regular watering. Propagate by division of existing plants, or from seed.

Climate

There are species suited to various cli­matic zones.