Daylily – Hemerocallis spp.
Family: Asphodelaceae
Common Name: Daylily
Description:
A tough and versatile perennial valued for its striking, lily-like blooms and graceful, arching foliage. Each flower lasts for a single day, but plants produce a succession of blooms over several weeks, providing a long and colorful display. Available in a vast range of colors and forms — from rich reds and golds to soft pastels and bicolors — daylilies add effortless beauty to any garden setting.
Origin: Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
Growth Habit: Clump-forming perennial with dense, strappy leaves.
Height: 30 – 120 cm
Spread: 40 – 90 cm
Flowering Time: Spring to late summer (October – March)
Flower Colours: Yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, cream; single or double forms. Some are fragrant or night-blooming.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost
Water Needs: Moderate; water regularly in summer. Once established, daylilies are drought-tolerant and suitable for waterwise or semi-xeric gardens.
Maintenance: Low-maintenance and long-lived. Remove spent flowers and old leaves to encourage fresh growth. Divide clumps every 3–4 years in early spring or autumn.
Frost Tolerance: Moderate to good
Landscape Uses:
- Excellent for mass planting, borders, and slopes
- Erosion control and low-water landscapes
- Perfect for mixed beds and container gardens
Wildlife & Pollinators:
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hawkmoths.
Companion Plants: Agapanthus, Kniphofia, Dietes, Salvia, Tulbaghia, ornamental grasses.
