Daylilies ~the Perfect Perennials

It's been a rather tough season for garden flowers this year, with the record-breaking heat before summer even arrived, and then too much rain. Many of my perennial flowers have been slow to bloom, unenthusiastically producing just a handful of blossoms. But not my daylilies. Even as other flowers wilted this year, the daylilies paid no attention and just kept blooming. Very hardy plants! Daylilies have been called the perfect perennial because they grow from late spring to early fall with very little care in a wide range of climates, have relatively few pest and disease problems, and adapt to many soil conditions. They just keep growing and growing...the Energizer Bunny of perennial flowers!  



Daylilies love full sun, mine are planted in a sunny spot, but they can tolerate partial shade. Deadheading the spent flowers will encourage more blooms (if you never deadhead, you'll still get flowers, just not as many and the plant won't look as nice). It's also a good idea to remove the spent leaves when they turn yellow or brown (I find that when the leaves turn brown, they will fall to the bottom of the plant and can be easily removed.) Mulching at the beginning of the season helps to retain the moisture and nutrients in the soil. I like the bright yellow daylilies (shown in my photos), but you can get them in a variety of sizes and colors. 

Daylilies blooming in my garden

• Many garden sites suggest not planting perennials like daylilies too close to trees since they tend to compete for water.
• Daylilies attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden!

 Text and photos © 2011 JerseyLil’s 2 Cents