Grand Valley Daylily Society
Daylily Frequently Asked Questions
Daylilies, you mean those orange things?
Many people think of daylilies as the wild orange flowers growing beside roadways
across the country. Yet those wild species of flowers have been refined by years of
hybridizing to the point where it's hard to believe that the old and the new are even
related! Leaving dull orange decades behind, today's modern daylilies have been
developed into a diverse spectrum of colors, patterns, sizes, and shapes. Tropical and
exotic by nature, many are fragrant and have nocturnal blooming habits. This makes
daylilies ideal for summer evening patio enjoyment.
Their scientific name, Hemerocallis, means "beauty for a day." Each daylily blossom
lasts for only one day. However, with many buds and lots of scapes, an established
plant can be in bloom for several weeks or even longer. Many cultivars will also rebloom
several times during one growing season, further extending the flower's bloom season.
Each individual daylily has its own inbred blooming traits and season.
When do Daylilies bloom?
Here in Western Michigan, bloom seasons are: extra early (late May), early (June),
early midseason (late June - early July), midseason (July), midlate (late July), late
(August), and very late (mid-August to frost). By spanning such a wide season, daylilies
are the ideal backbone perennial for your garden. They can be relied on for a fantastic
display, year after year, and they offer great landscaping potential.
But I like lots of different colors and varieties!
Daylilies are presently available in every color of the spectrum, except blue.
Considerable effort is being expended by hybridizers across the country to solve this
last mystery. Blue will be a reality; it's just a matter of time! In addition to the variety of
colors, bicolored and multi-colored daylilies are also available. Blossom size in the world
of daylilies ranges from 1" to 11"+, and plant size varies in height from 6" to 5'. Blossom
texture (creped, corduroy, delicate, plastic-like, etc.) and form (triangular, circular,
spidery, doubles, etc.) are equally diverse. This makes for a smorgasbord of flowers to
choose from with a multitude of landscaping options. Most individuals soon find
themselves mesmerized by a particular type of daylily and enjoy building their gardens
around them.
Are they bulbs?
Though daylilies are members of the Lily family, they are not bulbs as lilies are, but
fibrous-rooted, hardy, herbaceous perennials. They consist of three main growing
parts: the Roots – finger-like projections coming off the bottom of the plant; the Crown –
the growing junction where the roots meet the leaves and where the flower scapes and
blooms are formed for each blossoming season, and the Foliage – narrow, grassy
leaves which form "fans" as they grow .
Are all Daylilies hardy?
Daylily foliage has three basic categories. Dormant daylilies die back to the ground
completely in the fall and resume growth every spring. In Semi-evergreen daylilies, the
foliage remains green until hard frost after which the tops of the leaves will turn brown
and go dormant, while the bottom 1"-2" above ground may remain green. Evergreen
daylilies will remain green all year long, unless frozen severely. Most Evergreens may
do well in our climate, especially if they are planted in early spring so that they may
have the benefit of a season's growth before experiencing our cold Northern winters.
Some Evergreen daylilies are tender in the north and may require special care.
Mulching is sometimes recommended to protect these plants from the the bitter cold of
winter and from the alternate thawing and freezing of early spring when early growth
may begin and then freeze, followed by thaw and rot.
Where, How, & When do I plant them?
Daylilies love a sunny to partly-sunny location. Plant them so that the soil is just 1"
above the crown; spread the roots out in the hole with some water; replace the dirt, and
water well. Do not plant too deeply. In West Michigan, daylilies are usually planted from
late April through mid-September. Mulch well the first winter, especially the evergreens.
How do I take care of them?
Water alone is the most essential need of daylilies. It is most important in the spring,
when plants are forming their flower scapes and buds, and in the summer during the
actual bloom season. Frequent waterings throughout the season will dramatically
improve bloom size, number of blossoms, and amount of increase in new fans. In
addition, deep watering at a rate of 1" a week (as opposed to frequent, brief waterings)
will strengthen the plants. Deep watering draws the roots deep down into the soil rather
than up close to the soil surface where they may suffer from hot, dry spells. Watering
should be done late in the day to avoid marring of the blossoms from water droplets.
My soil isn't great.
Daylilies grow easily and well in all soil types, from sand to clay. The greater Grand
Rapids area is prone to both these soil types. A generous addition of sawdust, peat
moss, or composted manure will enhance your native soil, producing amazing results.
In the spring, light fertilizer (5-10-5) may be added to the plants, if desired. In the
summer during peak bloom season, a fertilizer high in nitrogen (20-5-10) is
recommended. 4-8-12 fertilizer may be added in the fall when plants are in a period of
rest after blooming. In general, newly planted daylilies should not be fertilized within the
first couple of weeks of being planted. Older, larger clumps will benefit from fertilizer as
the surrounding soil may have become depleted after several years of growth. When
fertilizing, care should be taken to place fertilizer in a ring around the base of the
foliage. Never spread fertilizer directly on or into the fans, as it may cause the leaves to
burn.
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The Grand Valley Daylily Society
Who we are & what we do:
The Grand Valley Daylily Society is a non-profit organization which was founded in
January of 1985 by several local daylily enthusiasts. Approximately 40 people joined
the club that first year, and many of them are still actively participating in the club today.
The purpose of the Society, in the words of Article 2 of our Constitution, is "to promote
and encourage the development and improvement of the daylily and to increase
interest therein, as a means of home and civic beautification." We are accomplishing
these goals in a variety of ways. We have provided plants for Habitat Homes and other
projects to showcase the daylily in our community, and we have increased public
awareness of the daylily through floral donations to and upkeep of daylily beds at the
Frederik Meijer Gardens and the Grand Rapids Ronald McDonald House. In July of
1998, we hosted a Regional Daylily Meeting, and we also host an annual Daylily Show
displaying a variety of daylily blooms to encourage use of the daylily in local gardens
and landscaping.
The Society has also developed a plant acquisition program designed to introduce
newer daylily hybrids to our area. The increase of these hybrids is then sold at our
annual spring auctions. Door prize plants which are won at our monthly meetings are
also awarded at this time. In this way, the society can introduce new hybrids to the area
while making them available at prices members can afford.
In addition, the Grand Valley Daylily Society hosts annual spring and fall plant auctions
which are eagerly awaited by all members, and not just daylilies are sold! The auctions
are a means of gaining new plants, sharing of the abundance of one's own, and raising
funds for the benefit of the club. The proceeds are used to subsidize our plant
acquisition program, the printing of our quarterly newsletters, bus trips to daylily
hybridizing gardens or other places of gardening interest, our annual Christmas party,
and other activities and projects as approved by Society membership vote.
The Grand Valley Daylily Society also used funds to become a charter member of the
West Michigan Horticultural Society which is now housed at the Frederick Meijer
Gardens. Many of the daylilies you see there were donated to the Gardens by the
Grand Valley Daylily Society.
When does the Society meet?
The Grand Valley Daylily Society meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
except for the month of May. Our meetings are held indoors from October through April
and feature a wide variety of daylily and general gardening programs including slide
and Power Point daylily presentations, presentations by out-of-town daylily experts, and
presentations by notable local gardening and horticultural enthusiasts.
In May, we hold our annual spring auction on the second Thursday of the month. This
is a fun and exciting way to kick off the upcoming daylily season! During the summer
months of June, July, and August, Grand Valley Daylily Society members graciously
open up their gardens for summer garden tours, so we can see a wide variety of our
favorite flowers in bloom.
Our fall auction is held in September, and then it's back indoors for great daylily
programs until May, except for our annual Christmas dinner which is held at a local
restaurant the first Thursday of December.
The public is always invited to join us at our monthly meetings and other club activities.
Watch for our notices in the Grand Rapids Press and in the Advance newspapers.
FAQ's
Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Grand Valley Daylily Society is a 501 (c) 7
non-profit organization created to promote and encourage the development and
improvement of the daylily and to increase interest in its use as a means of home and
civic beautification.