Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

How much light does a Daylily need?

Give this daylily full sun for its best growth, though it also grows well in part shade. Full sun is the preferred exposure of the two. Outdoors, it needs at least two hours of direct sun a day to grow well. Part shade is still an acceptable spot for it outdoors. Up to six hours of direct sun a day also suits it well outdoors. Full sun to part shade is the exposure range given for this plant outdoors.

• Light: Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred)^1,2
• Direct sun: 2 h/day^1,1

How often to water a Daylily

This daylily has only moderate water requirements, ranging from dry to medium. It tolerates soil that runs dry between waterings, up to soil that stays evenly moist. This plant also tolerates drought. Because its range runs down to dry soil, it does not need frequent watering outdoors. Dry to medium is the full range this plant's water needs cover outdoors. Even in a dry spell, this plant's water needs stay within that same range outdoors.

• Water: Dry to medium¹

Best soil for a Daylily

This daylily needs well-drained soil, and it does best in ground with plenty of organic matter. It still tolerates poor soil as well. Soil pH should fall between 6.2 and 6.8. Within that band, a pH of 6.5 is considered optimal for this plant. It tolerates erosion as well. Average garden soil works fine, as long as it drains well.

• Soil drainage: Well drained^1,3
• Soil pH: pH 6.2–6.8²

Hardiness and temperature

This daylily is hardy in USDA zones 3a through 8b. That span runs from zone 3a at the cold end to zone 8b at the warm end. It also tolerates both heat and humidity. Hot, humid summers are within what this plant can handle outdoors. Hardiness zones and tolerance to heat and humidity are the temperature facts given for this plant.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b¹

Fertilizing a Daylily

Feed this daylily only lightly, not heavily. Apply fertilizer in March, July and September. That adds up to a light feeding schedule across the growing season rather than one heavy application. The three applications fall in early spring, midsummer, and early fall. March, July, and September are the only months given for feeding this plant.

• Fertilizer: Light, once a year (Mar, Jul, Sep)⁴

Pruning a Daylily

Deadhead this daylily by removing spent blooms and seedpods after it finishes flowering in summer. Doing this improves its appearance and encourages it to rebloom. Otherwise, only remove dead growth from the plant. Plan this work for March, and again in July and August. Deadheading and removing dead growth are the only two pruning tasks given for this plant.

• Pruning: Deadheading and Remove dead growth only (Mar, Jul–Aug)³

How to plant a Daylily

This daylily grows in USDA hardiness zones 3a through 8b. It is an herbaceous perennial with a spreading habit. At maturity, it reaches 3 to 6 ft (0.91-1.83 m) tall and 2 to 2.5 ft (0.61-0.76 m) wide. Space plants to allow for that mature width outdoors. This daylily also has a rapid growth rate outdoors. Height and width are the only size measurements given for this plant.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b¹

Winter care

This daylily is hardy outdoors through USDA zone 3a, its coldest zone. Its hardiness range runs all the way up to zone 8b on the warm end too. Below zone 3a, it is not rated as winter hardy outdoors. Zone 8b is the warmest zone in which it is still rated hardy. Zone 3a to 8b is the only cold-hardiness range given for this plant. That is the hardiness range given for planning winter care outdoors.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b¹

How to propagate a Daylily

Division is the usual way to propagate this daylily outdoors. Gardeners divide it to increase their supply of plants. You can also grow this daylily from seed. Of the two methods, division is the one named as more usual for this plant. Both ways are valid options for someone propagating it at home. This daylily can be propagated either way, by dividing a plant or by seed.

• Propagation: Division and seed³

Common problems

Several pests occasionally attack this daylily outdoors: flower thrips, two-spotted spider mites, aphids, daylily leafminer, and slugs and snails. These pests mainly feed on the foliage and flower buds. Slugs and snails are among the pests that can also show up on this plant. Aphids, thrips, and spider mites occasionally attack this plant's foliage and flower buds.

• Common pests: flower thrips, two spotted spider mites, aphids, daylily leafminer and slugs and snails²

Questions and answers

Is this daylily toxic to cats?

Yes, this daylily is toxic to cats, and the risk is described as potentially fatal. That toxicity applies to the leaves, stems, flowers, pollen, vase water, and roots of the plant. It is non-toxic to dogs.

How much sun does this daylily need?

It grows best in full sun but also tolerates part shade outdoors. It needs at least two hours of direct sun a day to grow. Full sun is the exposure named as preferred for it.

How do you propagate this daylily?

Division is the usual way to propagate this daylily outdoors. You can also grow it from seed. Dividing it is also the way gardeners increase their supply of plants.