How to Grow Daylily
Perennial
The daylily (Hemerocallis) is one of the most dependable and forgiving perennials you can grow, which is why American gardeners often call it the perfect plant for busy or beginning gardeners. Each trumpet-shaped bloom lasts a single day, but a healthy clump produces so many buds that the show continues for weeks. It thrives across a wide range of climates and tolerates heat, drought, and imperfect soil better than most flowering perennials.
Planting
Plant bare-root divisions or potted daylilies in spring after the ground has thawed, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first hard frost so the roots can settle in. Choose a spot with full sun to light shade; six or more hours of direct sun gives the best flowering, though the pale-colored varieties keep their color better with a little afternoon shade. Daylilies adapt to most soils but do best in well-drained ground enriched with compost, so loosen the planting area and set each plant with its crown about one inch below the soil surface. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to give the clumps room to expand, and water them in well at planting time.
Care
Water new plantings regularly for the first season, and give established clumps a deep soaking during dry spells, especially while they are setting buds and blooming. Daylilies are light feeders; a spring application of compost or a balanced granular feed worked into the soil is usually all they need, and overfeeding tends to produce leaves at the expense of flowers. Remove spent blooms and snap off finished flower stalks (scapes) at the base to keep plants tidy, and trim away any yellowed foliage through the season. In late fall, cut the leaves back to a few inches above the crown after frost, and divide crowded clumps every three to five years in early spring or right after bloom to keep them vigorous.
Bloom time
Most daylilies bloom in early to midsummer, and depending on the variety a clump will flower for roughly two to five weeks. Reblooming types and a mix of early, mid, and late-season varieties can stretch color from late spring into early fall.
Garden uses
Daylilies are workhorses for sunny borders, mass plantings, and slopes where their roots help hold soil, and they also perform well in large containers. The blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators, and cut scapes with several unopened buds will keep opening indoors over a few days.
Tips
Choose a range of early, midseason, and late varieties, and include a rebloomer or two, so your beds stay in flower for months rather than weeks. Deadheading regularly keeps plants looking fresh and can encourage more buds, while a two to three inch layer of mulch conserves moisture and cuts down on weeding. If an established clump stops blooming well, it is usually a sign it needs to be dug up and divided rather than fed.
General guidance for US gardens. Timing and hardiness vary by region; check your local frost dates and hardiness zone. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.