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Daylily, Hemerocallis
Most daylilies do just that - flower for one day only. But don't let that put you off. New buds keep developing - producing a long run of summer flowers. And the colour range is huge.
Most hemerocallis species come from the Far East, where they've been cultivated for thousands of years. The yellow H. lilioasphodelus was one of the first Chinese species to be introduced to Europe - during the 16th century. In fact, the unopened flower buds are a Chinese delicacy!
Flower shapes now vary from singles and doubles to spidery petals, ruffled edges and almost flat-faced blooms; the simple, elegant trumpet shape remains a big favourite. And there are hundreds of varieties that are good for a lively burst of border colour. Grow them in small clumps dotted through a scheme.
Site and soil preferences : Most varieties prefer soil that doesn't dry out completely in summer, and, although they need plenty of sun, red varieties such as H . 'Stafford' are more successful in a light woodland setting that prevents petal-scorching. Daylilies also look good planted by a pond or stream, but only if the soil isn't too soggy and it's one of the older, more robust varieties, such as H . 'Golden Chimes' .
Planting associations : H. 'Stella de Oro' , like the other dwarf and miniature varieties, is a good choice for a container. Grow it on its own or with contrasting plants such as Heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia 'Palace Purple' or the blue-green foliage of Euphorbia myrsinites . When planted in groups, the dense foliage will suppress all but the most determined weeds, which is one reason why daylilies are becoming so popular.
Division : Groups of plants that grow vigorously for a number of years can become congested and, as a result, start producing fewer flowers. If this happens, divide them in spring and replant the sections in enriched soil to give them a new lease of life. Separate the lush leaves emerging from the fleshly roots to create new plants. Pot these up and allow them to establish.
Feeding : Apply a sprinkling of high-potash fertiliser in spring, followed by a mulch of compost to encourage strong growth and plenty of flowering stems.
The daylily escapes most pests and diseases, but keep a look out for flower buds that become abnormally swollen and fail to open. This is most likely to be caused by the hemerocallis gall midge - a tiny insect whose grubs feed inside the unopened buds. As the pests are well protected from sprays, the only remedy is to pick off and destroy any buds that are affected. Because the main egg-laying period is in late spring, late-flowering varieties often escape damage.
National Collections of Hemerocallis C Searle Rosewood Daylilies 70 Deansway Avenue Sturry, Canterbury Kent CT2 ONN Tel: 01227 711071
J Wyers Little Hermitage St Catherine's Down, Ventnor Isle of Wight PO38 2PD Tel: 01983 730512
G Sinclair The Nursery Further Afield Evenley Road Mixbury, nr Brackley Northamptonshire NN1 5YR Tel: 01280 848808
Mrs P Maasz Lodore Mount Pleasant Lane Sway, Lymington Hampshire, SO41 8LS Tel: 01590 682577
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