Daylilies are the quintessential landscape plant. They can be found in nearly every landscape in the United States. Since the advent of the reblooming ‘Stella D’Oro’, landscapes have been transformed with color in borders and masses. There a quite a few daylily collections across the country, and several right here in Kansas. New cultivars hit the market every year, many with multiple petal colors and flower power. Daylily flowers are attractive to a number of insects including bees. Another interesting fact about daylilies is that the flowers are edible, both in bud and fully opened. The unopened buds taste similar to green peas.

Daylilies can flourish in a number of sites and conditions. They prefer full sun but will grow well in part shade, just with less flower power. They like well-drained soils , but will grow in heavy clay, sand, and loamy soils, They do not like standing water however, as the roots will rot out. They are easy to divide and move around the garden, once you get them established.

Maintenance on daylilies is easy. In the fall, after a hard freeze, cut or pull off the dead leaves and flower stalks. New growth emerges in April. Our maintenance crews cut back the whole plant in late July to encourage new growth and flowering in September. Plants should be divided ever 3 to 5 years, depending on cultivar and vigor.