Daylilies that win in the West
Plant the best performers for your region
Why is the daylily (Hemerocallis hybrids) the most popular perennial in the West? For one thing, it grows in virtually all of our climates. In the moist Pacific Northwest, daylilies develop such luxurious foliage that it’s wise to select tall-stemmed varieties if you want to see the flowers. In Northern California, nature supplies daylilies with the perfect balance of rainfall and sun. And daylilies bloom like the dickens in coastal Southern California, even outflowering roses. In California’s Central Valley and other hot inland locations, the foliage may grow shorter, but the flowers come just as abundantly. Gardeners in colder intermountain areas can grow deciduous varieties hardy enough to stand temperatures as low as -35°. Even in Southwest deserts, where daylilies face more of a challenge, they do surprisingly well when given afternoon shade and plenty of water.
Another reason daylilies are popular is that they’re so easy to grow. There are no disease or insect pests worth mentioning. Gophers leave them alone and deer usually do too. Even being trampled by kids or dogs or run over by a lawnmower doesn’t faze them for long.
Variety is another plus. Though there is an abundance of yellow- and orange-flowered daylilies, there are also plenty of romantic pinks and lavenders, dramatic reds and purples, and exotic browns. The foliage can be as fine as grass or as coarse as corn.
