lilies & Daylilies- What’s the difference?
While lilies and daylilies have very similar names and similar-looking blooms, they are two very different flowers.
Lilies are part of the Lilium family and grow from bulbs. Daylilies are part of the Hemerocallis family and grow from tuberous roots. Both types of lilies can be hardy perennials and will self-propagate when planted in the garden. Both of these flowers are beautiful additions to the garden and come in many different colors, shapes, sizes & forms. True lilies can be used as a very long lasting cut flower, whereas daylilies blooms only last for one day before fading- not ideal for cut flower use. True lilies have foliage on their stems whereas daylilies have grassy foliage and clean stems. Lilies are plagued by the scarlet lily beetle, while the daylilies are spared.
Daylilies are a well known perennial flower known for their hardiness and beauty. Here are some interesting facts about daylilies:
Daylilies are incredibly adaptable. Many varieties can thrive in zones 2 through 11 and are cold-hardy, as well as heat-tolerant and drought-resistant. They can grow in most any type of soil or climate.
The thick tubers of daylilies can be beneficial for erosion control. Many daylily varieties spread easily and can be used as colorful groundcover and weed control- even on steep slopes. This also means that some lilies can be quite aggressive in the garden.
Daylilies can make great container plants. Their dense long, grass-like foliage cascades over the sides of containers, while the tall thin flower stems add vertical interest to the display. Keep in mind that although daylilies are known to be drought tolerant, container-planted daylilies will need extra water! They can dry out quickly which can drastically decrease their productivity in a pot. When choosing daylilies to grow in containers you’ll want to choose varieties that are around 20” (51cm) or shorter. Oakes Daylilies offers a curated collection of daylilies suitable for container growing.
Daylilies have long grassy foliage. There is no foliage on their stems. Some varieties have short stems, other varieties can have stems reaching over 40” tall! Daylilies greatly vary in color, size, form, shape, and height.
Daylilies come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and forms. I’m excited to add some variety to my garden! I’ve been spending a lot of time browsing the Oakes Dayliles website. So many gorgeous varieties! I’m especially excited to try some of the double varieties available.
A Double Daylily
Daylilies love the sun & should be planted where they can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Daylilies should not be planted in the shade.
Darker colored daylilies (red and purple) can fade in warmer climates. Folks in warmer climates may want to plant their darker-colored lilies in an area where they will experience some afternoon shade to prevent fading.
There are early, mid and late season daylily varieties. There are also everblooming varieties. You can try a planting combination of these (or all!) to further extend your daylily flowering season.
There are thousands of different varieties of daylilies. More are being developed every year!
Do you grow daylilies? Do you have a favorite variety? Let us know in the comments below!
-Karissa
