The Daylily

By Diane Stjern

Horticulture Lab - Fall 2010
NDSU

Characteristics

The flowers belonging to the Hemerocallis genus are very diverse in color and form. There are about twenty different species of daylilies, and from these twenty species, over 45,000 varieties of hybrids have been developed. The colors of the daylilies originally hovered around yellow, orange, and pale pink, but each new year brings new varieties in different color groups such as reds, purples, greenish tones, near-white and near-black. However, a true blue daylily has yet to be developed. One of the first of this species to be altered was the Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, or the Lemon Lily.

The Hermerocallis lillioasphodelus, or Lemon Lily is one of the first daylilies used for breeding. It was the one of the first daylilies introduced to the United States. Actually, it is still found near abandoned cellar holes showing the endurance of this daylily. It is yellow in color, has a narrow petal shape to its bloom, and is quite fragrant. The Lemon Lily opens in the early evening and closes early the next morning. This clumps of this species are known to spread quite a lot, so one has to be careful where and how it is planted!

The daylily is a beautifully simple flower. It is loved by many – the multiple Hemerocallis societies dedicated to studying and developing new cultivars can attest to this! Daylilies are the perfect addition and centerpiece to any garden.


The yellow narrow shape of the Lemon Lily petal	The spreading power of the daylily!	The beautiful clumping of the daylily