Thursday, April 21, 2022 | Today's Paper | 70.151°
"Mildred Mitchell" is a prize-winning daylily cultivar for obvious reasons. (edenbrothers.com via Diana Duff/Special to West Hawaii Today)
The "Fulva" daylily is popular for its edible flower buds and its pretty orange color. (wikimedia.org via Diana Duff/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Nearly 20,000 different daylily varieties and cultivars are available today, thanks to the work of hybridizers worldwide. (Lewis Daylily Garden via Diana Duff/Special to WHT)
If you are looking for a flowering plant that requires little care and produces lots of lovely blossoms, you might want to consider growing some daylilies. Despite the common name, daylilies are not true lilies but are usually classified in the asphodelaceae family rather than the liliaceae family. They are distinct from lilies as they grow a fibrous root system from tubers rather than from bulbs.
If you are looking for a flowering plant that requires little care and produces lots of lovely blossoms, you might want to consider growing some daylilies. Despite the common name, daylilies are not true lilies but are usually classified in the asphodelaceae family rather than the liliaceae family. They are distinct from lilies as they grow a fibrous root system from tubers rather than from bulbs.
The genetic name for the species is hemerocallis, which is derived from the Greek words “hemera” for day and “kallos“ for beauty. This is a fitting name for a beautiful flower that opens at dawn and withers by dusk.
Daylilies are native to parts of Eastern Asia and have been cultivated in China and Japan for centuries where the dried flower buds are an important ingredient in traditional soups and are sold as “golden needles.”
These plants were not introduced to Europe until the 16th century and only arrived in Hawaii around 1850. Over the years the Hemerocallis genus has expanded to nearly 20,000 species and cultivars. Their beauty as well as their ability to adapt easily to a variety of growing conditions has made them a very popular herbaceous perennial. Today, daylilies are grown worldwide.
Many new varieties have been hybridized from the original species, which are still readily available and easy to grow. The cultivars include tall and dwarf varieties as well as evergreen and deciduous ones. Flower colors now range from the original yellow and orange varieties to light pastels and even to deep purples, reds and oranges. Some cultivars even produce multi-colored flowers and many of the latest hybrids sport ruffles and wavy edges along the standard six petals.
Though evergreen species are usually preferred by Hawaiian gardeners, some local growers plant the deciduous H. fulva for its edible buds. Left in place the buds will open to lovely dark orange flowers. Most of the others that are available here are evergreen with yellow flowers. Though we might enjoy daylily petals or buds in salads or other dishes, it is good to know that all parts of the plant are toxic to cats.
Most of the daylilies grown here are the yellow summer flowering, H. lilio-asphodelus known locally as “Nuuanu.” This variety has two heavy bloom cycles, one in the spring and another in the fall. Since daylily flower stalks often hold four or five buds that open in succession, any variety you grow will make a long-lasting cut flower stem.
Daylilies are fairly easy to grow. They are hardy in most of our microclimates and soil types and can thrive with minimal care. Though they are often overlooked for inclusion in tropical gardens, I have seen glorious daylily stands on terraced slopes in local gardens. They also make excellent bedding plants and can serve as decorative borders around pools, along driveways or beside walkways. In any location, they provide a wonderful show of color.
Depending on the variety, daylilies produce beautiful trumpet shaped flowers, some with deep throats and some more shallow-throated. Many are multi-colored and fragrant. Breeders continue to imagine new and different characteristics and combinations that keep adding new cultivars in the genus.
Several outstanding cultivars have names like: “Flash Gordon,” “Night Rider,” “Lady Scarlett” and “Flamingo Flamb.” “Mildred Mitchell” has a less showy name but a dazzling appearance as a 2-foot tall, lavender specimen, about 6 inches across with a purple center and petal edges and a green throat. And she is an evergreen variety that even has a slight fragrance. Hats off the hybridizers for this one.
Most daylily varieties bloom in spring though some new cultivars have longer and more frequent bloom cycles. Watch for the seed pods that form after flower bloom. Let them dry and you can use them for propagation. Between bloom seasons, the slender grass-like foliage of the daylily is also an attractive landscape plant.
Daylilies are a perennial, which means that they will continue to grow year after year. They grow from tuberous fleshy roots that enlarge each year and can be divided to produce new plants. Dividing the roots annually can produce as many as 10 new plants.
In Hawaii, plants can be divided year-round though the optimal time for propagation is after a heavy flowering, generally late in the fall. Start by cutting the foliage back to a few inches above the soil line. Preliminary division can be done with a sharp shovel while the plant is still in the ground; cutting the roots into quarters so they are easy to remove and further divide. Once removed, you can separate the roots into individual plants and replant.
Division will produce the same plant as the parent. If you collect or buy daylily seeds, you can use them for propagation as well. Seeds from hybrid plants may not produce the same plant as the parent, but might produce an interesting cultivar. Wait until the seed pods dry, before removing the seeds. Plant daylily seeds in a damp seeding mix and give them a few weeks to germinate. Seedlings will take up to two years to mature and begin flowering.
Daylilies will thrive with 6 to 8 hours of sun a day at upper elevations. At lower elevations or near the ocean, they need less hot sun and will do well in partial shade or filtered light. They grow best in rich soil with good drainage. They can also be planted in raised or terraced beds or in a pot that contains rich cinder soil. Place new plants about 18 inches apart into a bed and you will soon have a lovely stand of these beautiful bloomers.
Though new daylily plants may need deep watering once or twice a week when the weather is dry, they are fairly drought tolerant once established. Good soil drainage is key to success as daylilies do not like “wet feet.”
Planted in good soil, daylilies need minimal fertilization. Light applications once or twice a year are usually sufficient. Timing the feedings to late fall and early spring will provide nutrition to the plants when they need it most. Since most chemical fertilizers contain salts that can be harmful to daylilies, organic fertilizers are recommended.
Daylilies are tough and require minimal care. Maintenance consists of trimming spent flower stalks and older leaves and dividing the clumps every few years. Keeping the plants healthy can avoid insect and disease attacks. If insects appear, they can usually be treated with low tox organic substances. Stressed daylilies are susceptible to crown rot and rust. If these appear, dispose of the affected plants to avoid spreading the disease.
Local nurseries may carry daylilies. Call Margo at Sunrise at (808) 640-9191 to see if she can find them for you. Many stunning cultivars are available online, though only a few mainland growers will ship to Hawaii. Eden Bothers say they will. You can also get seeds from a local grower, friend or neighbor. Wherever you find them, do plant some daylilies and enjoy them anywhere in your garden.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
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Wednesday: “Ho‘oulu Farmers Market” at Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center. Information on their online market: keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
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“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground
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“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a
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