Information and photos from the Heritage Horticulture catalogue.
Botanical name: Hemerocallis
Family name: Liliaceae
Common name: Daylily
Origins: The hemerocallis are a relatively small genus of some 15 species, all native to eastern Asia. They were first recorded in Chinese literature as a cultivated plant 2500 years ago, and the beauty of the flower was extolled in poem and story. The day lily represented more than beauty to the Chinese; it was also food and medicine. Both the flower buds and young leaf shoots were consumed as a vegetable and various medications were made front the roots and leaves.
Brought to Europe along the Silk Road by Arab and Venetian traders in the sixteenth century, it quickly acclimatised and was soon endemic throughout Europe. The hemerocallis did not arrive in North America until the latter part of the nineteenth century, coming later still to Australasia and did not begin its climb to fame and fortune until the 1950s
Daylilies are very easy plants to grow and their cultural requirements are few but like most perennials they will give a more rewarding display if they are given care and attention. They are virtually disease and pest free. Snails and slugs can be a problem in among the plants but they rarely touch the flowers. Aphids can also be a problem but are readily controlled with Malathion. Spider mites are a problem in hot dry weather conditions and will need attention. They can be controlled naturally, by introducing predators or by using chemical sprays.
New plants should give their best display if planted with the crown about 2cm below ground level and plants separated by 80cm to lm in a well-worked soil which has been improved by compost or manure. We use osmocote at planting time to ensure good early and continuous fertilizing-about one handful to a plant mixed up in the planting soil. The plants should be well watered in until growth starts and they then should be treated to normal good garden care for best results. They will, however, withstand drought and will grow well in wet conditions. Most varieties give their best display in full sun but again, they will grow well in semi--shade. For fertilizer we use "Dynamic Lifter" in late winter/early spring and again in late summer/early autumn. This seems to give the best results.
Clumps are best divided after 3 or 4 years to obtain optimum flowers size, quality and quantity. Sizes, growth and bloom habit will vary depending upon weather and cultural conditions. Semi-evergreen varieties may go dormant in some areas and be evergreen in others.