DAYLILY CULTURE

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade – a minimum of 6 hours is good. Many light yellow, pink, and pastel blends develop a better color value in very sunny situations. Conversely, some reds and purples, because of their tints keep their color better if they receive protection from direct sun for part of the day.

LOCATION: Daylilies perform better if not planted near heavy-feeding broadleaf trees or hedges that compete at the surface for nutrition. The foliage in such shady areas will be lush, but blooms will be sparse. They will bloom well under the filtered shade of tall pines.

SOILS: Avoid soggy, saturated soils and locations; evenly moist or damp soils at ponds or stream banks are suitable if they are not subject to frequent prolonged soggy spells. Well-drained soils, especially sandy ones, should be amended with peat, compost, etc, for increased water retention. Heavy clay soils should be amended similarly to increase drainage. 

MULCH: Oak leaves; pine needles, and ground bark are good and help improve soil structure. Mulch moderates temperature, both heat and cold, as well as reducing weeds and evaporation.

WATER: Though daylilies can tolerate very dry conditions, they perform best when receiving adequate water. Enough water should be applied at one time to wet the soil 10-12 inches deep. This is especially important prior to and during the bloom period when they benefit most from extra watering.

FERTILIZER: Daylilies grow best when fertilized. We recommend that the first application of fertilizer each year to be late winter, before flower scape initiation is taking place inside the crown of the plant. They respond well to moderate amounts of nitrogen and higher rates of phosphorous and potash. Analyses such as 5-10-15 and 6-12-12 supply such requirements. Two pounds per 100 square feet of area is recommended. Two other applications should take place during the year, but not in mid or late summer.

PLANTING: For most cultivars, space about 18” apart. Dig hole and loosen soil below and around desired spot. Plant so that the crown is no deeper than the soil line or slightly above. Daylilies are often planted during the blooming season.

PESTS: Daylilies are generally very much pest free. However, some cultivars in certain environments develop minor problems. Aphids and thrips should be treated as needed. Mites can be troublesome in dry spells. Your local extension agent can help you with insecticide choices. Never use kelthane – it is toxic to daylilies.

PRUNING: Following bloom, the dead scape may be removed with a weed eater. We also recommend pruning foliage prior to planting, especially in large-scale landscapes during the growing season. This will allow for faster, easier handling and mulching; full regrowth in 3-4 weeks.


IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DAYLILIES….

Upstate Daylily Society is affiliated with The American Hemerocallis Society and a member of AHS Region #15, comprising NC and SC. UDS is based in the SC upstate area. Our club hosts monthly meetings with informative programs, several yearly plant sales and auctions at the Clemson Botanical Garden, group garden tours and a yearly accredited daylily show and sale, with an information booth at Greenville Mall in Greenville, SC. Guests are welcomed at all our events. To contact us, please visit www.upstatedaylily.org

Join the American Hemerocallis Society and receive The Daylily Journal. Four issues each year. A colorful, informative magazine featuring pictures of new cultivars; how-to articles on care, feeding, and hybridizing; and news of upcoming meetings and conventions. Please visit www.daylilies.org.

Membership benefits . . .

• A Round Robin department for members wishing to correspond with others sharing common interests in different types of daylilies (e.g., doubles, miniatures, spiders, etc.); there is even an E-mail Round Robin whose Robin Leader is Tim Fehr. 
• An opportunity to attend regional meetings and national conventions which offer garden tours, lectures, judges' clinics, and a chance to see the newest and best of today's daylilies. 
• Regional newsletters (usually two to four published annually) for the area in which you live. 
• An invitation to exhibit at AHS-accredited local flower shows. 
• The privilege of visiting display gardens throughout the country. 
• A slide and video library, selected programs made available for a nominal fee. 

The American Hemerocallis Society, Inc. (AHS) is a non-profit organization. The AHS is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, and especially to promote, encourage, and foster the development and improvement of the genus Hemerocallis and public interest therein. These purposes are expressly limited so that AHS qualifies as an exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law.

Johnson Daylily Gardens

725 Saluda Dam Road

Easley, South Carolina  29640
(864) 859-4980
Email: info@daylilyj.com