[GPI]

This is Hemerocallis “Stella De Oro” commonly known as the Day lily.


Photo / pic / image of Hemerocallis “Stella De Oro”.
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Hemerocallis “Stella De Oro” facts and information.


This frost hardy perennial grows to approx 0.4 metres (1 ½ ft) in height; with a spread of approx 0.6 metres (2ft).
Originally from Eurasia and native from Europe to China, Korea, and Japan.
As its common name suggest it has blooms that last just a day but not to worry as new blooms open each day right up until autumn in some cases.
“Stella De Oro” sports bright yellow trumpet like flowers which are scented and held above clumps of strappy green leaves.
The flowers of most species open at sunrise and wither at sunset, to be replaced by another one (sometimes two or none) on the same stem the next day.
The flower consists of three petals and three sepals, collectively called tepals, each with a midrib in the same or in a contrasting color.
The centermost section of the flower, called the throat, has usually a different and contrasting color.
There are six stamens, each with a two-lobed anther. After pollination, the flower forms a pod.
The “Day lily” is mostly used towards the front of a mixed border preferably in clusters although I have used it as a container plant.
This is a tough plant which is not as delicate as its flowers may at first suggest, give it a position in sun to partial shade with a soil that is always slightly moist and keep an eye on it for greenfly attack.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Hemerocallidaceae
Genus: Hemerocallis

[Lilith]

I had never grown daylilies before this year. I really didn't have a decent place for them, and the really nice ones can be quite expensive sometimes. But this Spring, I gave in to a bag of mixed ones at a discount store. They don't tell you what's in there, but I figured the price was so reasonable, I'd take a chance. Now I'm having great fun watching them bloom to find out what they are. So far, they've been blooming at different times - some came early, some just now starting, and some I think will bloom in late Summer, so flowers all through the season. They're just so tough, and so satisfying. Here are some photos of the ones that have bloomed so far.

[verge]

Lilith, your daylilys are beautiful. And all from a lucky dip, you must have watched eachone bloom with bated breath.
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Q. What is the best soil for growing plants?
A. Your soil.

[Lilith]

Thanks, verge...they ARE beautiful, and I love the game of waiting for them to bloom to see what they are. So far, except for that first one, they're all some variation of pink. That last one is fragrant, too. Still many more to go, though, so lots more fun surprises. I've had so much fun with these, I may get another bag of them next Spring.

Now that I have daylilies of my own, I can get into the trading network. Folks around here just love to trade fans and build their beds.

[GPI]

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How to grow Hemerocallis / daylilies in Ireland
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Growing Conditions

Daylilies prefer a soil that is nutrient rich, moist and well-drained. However, they are extremely adaptable, growing in both damp soils and in very dry soils.

These plants bloom very well in full sun, and are slightly less prolific as shade increases. In deep shade, the plants do not bloom and eventually die.

Planting

Daylilies should be planted high, never deeper than the crowns. If bare rooted plants are simply thrown on the ground, they sometimes root themselves in. Daylilies can spread quickly in good soil (depending on the specific cultivar), so should be spaced appropriately.

Maintenance

Early Spring

In early spring, daylilies should be cut back to within 5 cm (2 in.) on the soil line or the base of the crown. They will appreciate a good layer of mulch.

Bloom Period (mid-summer)

During bloom, these plants need a consistently moist soil, otherwise the buds may fail to open or the flowers will be dwarfed. Overhead irrigation or rain will mottle or "melt" the day's blooms, so irrigation should either be done by hand, drip, or in the late afternoon when the day's flowers have begun to fade.

Many daylilies also need to be deadheaded, meaning the spent flowers must be removed by pinching off or cutting. Particularly on large-flowered varieties, the spent flowers may get wrapped around other buds, preventing them from opening properly. Many newer cultivars are "self-deadheading", meaning that the flowers drop by themselves rather than needing to be pinched or cut. Care must be taken with some varieties, as the spent blooms closely resemble opening buds.

After Blooming

After blooming, most daylilies put on a new flush of vegetative growth. The old foliage is often yellow and unattractive, so it is often removed. This can be done either by pulling the old leaves out, or simply cutting the plant to the ground (they quickly regrow).

Autumn Cleanup

After the foliage goes completely yellow, it is best to cut back the foliage to within 20 cm (8 in.) of the soil line, to prevent matting during the winter months. While this is not necessary, it makes for a more attractive winter garden and eliminates a potential harbor for undesirable pests and fungi. At a minimum, remove the spent, brown flower scapes.



Harvesting

The buds and flowers of the daylily are edible, and used in some asian cuisines. They can also be stuffed, similar to Squash flowers.

The difficulty with daylilies is that since the blooms only last a day, they must be picked and used the same day. The best time to pick is just after the flowers have fully opened. Refrigeration is not appropriate, as it will cause them to wilt.

The enlarged roots can be peeled and eaten raw or stir-fried. They have a sweet radish flavor.

Propagation

Asexual (clonar) Propagation
Division

Daylilies are usually propagated by division, and are one of the easiest perennials to divide. There are several methods for dividing daylilies:

* The most common method is to take two digging forks, inserted through the middle of the clump back to back, and simply prying the plant apart.
* For very large clumps, daylilies can also be divided by either driving a shovel or spade throught the clump while still in the ground, or else the clump can be dug up and cleaved with an axe or mattock.
* For special cultivars, daylilies can be divided by hand, using fingers and a knife.

Divisions can be as small as a single fan.

Proliferations

A Proliferation is a small fan that grows in the node of a bract on the scape. These fans can be rooted to make a new plant (which will, like divisions, be a clone). To encourage proliferations, simply make sure that no seed pods are allowed to develop on the top of the scape. Harvest the proliferations as soon as the scape shows signs of yellowing, and root in water with a piece of the scape still attached.

Tissue Culture

Some of the newer, patented cultivars of daylily are propagated through tissue culture.
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Seed Propagation

Many daylily cultivars can produce fertile seed (however, triploid cultivars do not). To harvest seed, simply leave the seed pod on the plant until it completely dries up and opens. Some prefer to harvest a little earlier, but at least wait until the pod shows some sign of an open crack. The time from pollination to harvest runs around 45 days.



Pests and Diseases

Fungal Diseases

Leaf Spot caused by Cercospora hemerocallis
Russett Spot
Leaf Streak caused by Aureobasidium microstictum
Crown Rot
Rust caused by the heteroecious fungus Puccinia hemerocallidis (alternate host: Patrina.

Nematodes

Root Knot caused by the Southern Root Knot Nematode (Meliodgyne incognita):

Insects, Mites

A Plant Bug, Lopidea confluenta
Grasshoppers
Earwigs
Thrips, including

Flower Thrips, Frankliniella tritici
Western Flower Thrips
Daylily Thrips

Hemerocallis Gall Midge
Beetles, including

Imported Longhorned Weevil
Japanese Beetle
Bumble Flower Beetle

Convict Caterpillar
Two-spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae

Other pests

Slugs and Snails
Deer

Unknown Cause

Spring Sickness

Troubleshooting

* Flowers fail to open fully: inadequate water
* Flowers "mushy": rain damage
* Flowers streaked
* No flowers: too much shade, deer

* Foliage yellow: physiological effect after flowering
* Foliage streaked
* Foliage has orange spots

* Crown rotting: Southern Blight
* Fans distorted and brown in early spring: Spring sickness

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html It uses material from the Wikibooks article http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A_Wikimanual_of_Gardening/Plant-by-Plant_Information/Daylily
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[Tessa]

I added some "exotic" daylilies this year, and some are starting to bloom. This one isn't very tall, but the flowers are about 6" across with a ruffled yellow edge set against that beautiful coral pink. It is a rebloomer, too, so will have more of them later this summer. This year I bought daylilies that are 1. rebloomers and 2. fragrant. I also got some tall ones - 36 - 42 inches.

I love them.