Extended bloom varieties have flowers that last well into the evening, so they can be admired when you have guests over for dinner and cocktails. Reblooming varieties throw out successive sets of scapes, blooming for most of the summer. There is a vast array of different daylily shapes and sizes: shorter varieties under 2 feet tall will have flowers about 3-4 inches across, while cultivars at 2-3 feet or taller can have blooms up to 8-9 inches across in some cases. There are those with the classic lily shape, some with ruffled blooms, and others with long, spidery petals (aptly called spider types). There are even double flowered varieties. Daylily flowers come in many different colours, including creamy white, yellow, orange, various shades of pink, red, and purple; and many varieties are multicoloured. There is a daylily cultivar for almost every taste!

Plant daylilies in sun or part shade on well-drained soil and follow the standard advice for planting new perennials. Old plants may need division after 5-7 years, if they stop blooming well. This can be done in fall or early spring. Established plants are drought tolerant but will appreciate some supplemental watering during long periods of extreme heat and drought. For best results, mulch around the plants with 1-2 inches of compost each spring. The only other maintenance required is to cut plants back to ground level each fall or early spring.

Daylilies are rarely troubled by pests or disease. Daylily midge is occasionally encountered and is a small fly that lays its eggs in flower buds. The larvae – tiny yellowish maggots – begin to eat the buds from the inside and cause them to turn hard and deformed, eventually dropping to the ground. Pick these buds off the plants to disrupt the insect’s lifecycle and prevent it from overwintering. Fungal diseases can be an issue during wet springs where soil drainage is poor. Remove and destroy leaves that show yellowing and browning on newly emerging shoots in spring. Remember to plant daylilies on well-drained soil.