The Perfect Perennial

The daylily is said to be the perfect perennial.  They are currently available in almost any color except true blue, in a variety of sizes and shapes.  Bloom sizes range from miniature to very large, available in single, double, spider and unusual forms.  Daylilies or suitable to almost all climates, soil types, landscape and lighting conditions, and they require little care.  They are drought resistant and almost disease and insect free, with only a few exceptions.

The proper selection of cultivars can produce a colorful bloom season lasting most of the year, when planned and positioned properly.  This can be accomplished by carefully selecting cultivars having different blooming seasons -- combining early, midseason and late bloomers.  There are over 50,000 cultivars available in a variety of foliage habits insuring success in almost all climates.  There are dormant, semi-evergreen and evergreens varieties to choose from.  Not all foliage habits do well in all climates.  Many dormant cultivars require a period of sustained cold to maintain peak performance in the following bloom season; as do many evergreens require mild winters.

While most people are familiar only with the yellow and orange varieties commonly found along roadsides, today's cultivars can be breathtaking.  Through hybridizing (see our lesson on Hybridizing) both in the United States and in England the daylily has been vastly improved.  Before hybridization began in the 1930's, daylilies could only be found in yellow, orange, and rusty red.  Today, daylilies can range from near-whites and pastels to oranges and reds, with pinks reds and purples -- some of them nearly blue -- either solids or many different combinations of colors.  Some newer cultivars can fetch prices at auction well over $500 per fan.  Such high prices are merely a product of supply and demand, and prices drop quickly as the available supply of a particular cultivar increases.