Garden Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
July 2, 2003

    Driving the interstate over the past few weeks I was awed by the brilliant daylily displays in the medians and along side the highway. Normally early to mid June is the peak for daylily bloom, but our unusual wet and cool nights has accentuated both longevity and bloom period.
    Daylilies are durable perennials able to withstand the most harsh weather conditions. What other perennial can survive the constant heat and droughty conditions along the roadways and still be beautiful? Now a floral staple for North Carolina highway medians and parking lots, the colorful perennial has always been a part of the residential landscape.
    Daylilies are often integrated into border plantings filling voids created by the initial use of small plants. Border areas create contrast of plant form and seasonal color. Vivid colors unify and complete a planting by tying shrubbery groupings together.
    Cultivars come in variety of colors from red, orange, gold, melon, yellow, pink, and lavender and near white flowers plus exquisite combinations of these colors can be attributed to extensive work of plant breeders, hobbyists and amateur hybridizers.
    Daylilies are true to their name; individual flowers last for only a day; however new buds open almost daily. Sizeable daylily clumps having numerous flowering buds can remain in bloom for an entire month. Many cultivars such as the Stella D'Ora series bloom continuously all summer into the fall.
    Daylilies respond best when planted in fertile, well-drained soils, preferably in a sunny location. A minimum of 6 hours of full sun is needed for proper growth and flowering. However, some cultivars do well with less sun. Protection from mid and late afternoon sun, when possible, helps flower color to remain more consistent.
    Daylilies can tolerate drought conditions, however they cannot stand wet conditions for prolonged periods of time. Additional water during bloom season enhances flower size, strength and the overall appearance of the plant. This rainy season is solid testimony to the positive effects during the bloom period.
    Daylilies also respond positively to fertilizer applications, but not excessive amounts. Applications of water soluble fertilizer may be sprayed directly on to plants or granules can be spread around the plants. Many growers use time-release fertilizers, such as Osmocote, with excellent results. Be careful not to over fertilize your plants especially during bloom period.
    This is just the "tip of the iceberg" so to speak with information about daylilies. There are literally thousands of varieties of daylilies-too many to list here. Below are web sites that have more complete and detailed information not only on varieties but cultural practices for producing beautiful daylilies.

North Carolina Daylily Fans Web site:
http://www.safehavengardens.com/ncdaylilyfans.htmlLeigh Daniels at 336-956-1388 janetscer@lexcominc.net
Jack Bilson 704-645-0704 JackBilsonJr@carolina.rr.com

Rosy Hem Gardens Web site: http://www.safehavengardens.com/bilson.htm

American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) web site:
http://www.daylilies.org/daylilies.html

AHS Region 15 (NC & SC) web site: http://ahs_region_15.tripod.com/

Daylily Gardens and Nurseries

**Jack & Nancy Bilson, Rosy Hem Garden, Phone: 704-645-0704
Email: JackBilsonJr@carolina.rr.com

**Jimmy & Libby Davis, Butterfly Garden, Lexington, NC
Phone: 336-746-5905 pirateparents76@hotmail.com
**Greg & Clare Bogard, Winston-Salem, NC Phone: 336-764-8564 Email: sylvanbrook@hotmail.com

**Kaye & Steve Arnold, Critter Creek Farm, Seagrove, NC Phone: 336-873-7579 Email: crittercreekfarm@yahoo.com
Site: http://www.gardeneureka.com/CRITT

**Jim and Peggy Jeffcoat, Singing Oaks Garden, Blythewood, SC Phone: 803-786-1351 E-Mail: daylily@usit.net www.GardenEureka.com/SINGI
**Karrkier Daylilies, 7897 Karriker Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081 704-933-3065

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu or phone at 704-633-0571.