H is for Hemerocallis on the A to Z Challenge. Hemerocallis means ‘beautiful for a day’ and in English it means Daylily. We gardeners have been very happy for the daylily which is such a trouble free plant. It loves the sun, but is not particular about soil, although it is always wise to put in a daylily, or any plant with a good helping of compost. They are also quite tolerant of drought. This is a plant for every garden.
Many people are familiar with the common orange roadside daylily, Hemerocallis fulva, but you can now find daylilies in every color from cream to deepest red. There are frilled daylilies, tall daylilies and short daylilies, early, mid and late season daylilies. Olallie Daylily Farm, just over the border in Vermont is not far from here. The owner and head gardener is Christopher Darrow, grandson of the eminent daylily breeder George Darrow sells his grandfather’s daylilies, as well as many others including daylilies he has bred himself. A trip to the farm is always a delight.
Closer to me is the Silver Daylily Farm, cared for by my friend Richard Willard down in Greenfield.
Several years ago I began my own no-mow, erosion control project by planting daylilies on the small but steep bank in front of the house. It is a glory for at least 6 weeks. I have chosen a paler palette of daylilies, but I couldn’t resist a few bright reds. The bright yellow Hyperion is an old daylily that was given to me by a dear friend.
Take a little hemerocallis tour with me by clicking here. And don’t forget, daylilies, like many other plant families, have their own society, the American Hemerocallis Society. To see what else begins with H today click here.
Your Daylilies are so beautiful!! I love all the colors together!
I love daylilies and have over a hundred plants in my suburban garden. Unfortunately, the deer seem to enjoy them too, which means many are covered with deer netting where there is not fencing to keep them out.
Beautiful photos! Daylilies do pretty well in Colorado, too, even with the dry conditions.
Have fun with A to Z!
Jenny at Choice City Native
Gorgeous Daylilies! My parents have a bed in their front yard devoted almost entirely to them, but not in so many glorious colors. I’ll have to tell my mother to be on the lookout. 🙂
Lilies are such beautiful summer flowers. I grow quite a variety in my garden.
Christy – The Daylily Bank is one of my great successes.
Denise – The daylilies are too close to the house so I/they am safe from the deer.
Jenny – They are indestructible.
Ellen – No matter which or how many colors, they are all gorgeous.
Sherry – They are perfect in every garden.
That sounds like the perfect flower for me. The only one I can grow now is miniature daffodils.
I’ve become more of a fan of daylilies over the years. You do get some great colors and they are very undemanding.
I do love daylilies and H is an old favorite. I will start thinking about them. The foliage is up.