Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Daylilies are common perennial herbs native to Eurasia. Introduced in the late 1800's from Europe1, they are now found in all of the lower 48 states of the USA except the North Dakota, California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Mature height is 3 feet tall, and they prefer moist areas including swamps, ditches, and the banks of streams, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. The large showy blooms are produced in summer. Over 40,000 registered hybrids and cultivars are available to suite every taste and color palette1. It is adaptive to many different environments.
Daylilies a beautiful addition to a garden or any other landscaping project. They grow in sun and shade, and a wide variety of soil conditions. They needs a minimum of 16’’ for the roots to grow. They have a medium level of drought resistance, and can also grow in colder environments. They are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds, and the leaves are eaten by deer. The plants reproduce asexually, forming large clumps that can push out other species.2
References and Useful Websites:
1Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural resources
2Illinois Wildflowers
This page was prepared by Matt Zitsos, BIO 102, Fall 2011