Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis and are not true lilies. This Greek word is made up of two parts: hemera meaning day and kallos meaning beauty. This name is appropriate, because each flower lasts only one day. The daylily is originally native from temperate parts of Asia, Japan, Siberia, Korea, China, and Eurasia. Since the early 1930s, hybridizers in the United States and England have made great imrovements to this perennial.
Large showy flowers have made the daylily popular worldwide. They are highly diverse in color and form – a result of hybridization which is very popular among gardening enthusiasts. Originally, the only colors were yellow, orange, and a fulvous red. Today, the daylily is available in a wide spectrum of colors, and various color combinations. Over 60,000 registered cultivars exist for this perennial today.
Many species of the daylily are edible. They are used in Chinese cuisine in such dishes as hot and sour soup, daylily soup, and moo shu pork! This perennial has also been used for medicinal purposes. Some species can be toxic however, so extreme care must be used when ingesting the daylily.
The daylily is a vigorous, rugged perennial that last for years with very little care. They survive harsh winters, adapt well to most soil and light conditions and grow quickly. Each daylily plant produces an abundance of flower buds that open over a long period of time. Most do not have a scent, but there are many night blooming plants that are delightfully fragrant. The daylily is useful in the perennial flower border, planted in large masses, or as a ground cover. These “day-beauties” have come a long way, and as they continue to evolve, are destined to have a very colorful future.
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