How to Grow Daylilies
Hemerocallis × hybrida
The most planted perennial in North America — drought-tough, deer-resistant, and available in nearly every color.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About daylilies
Daylilies are the gold standard of carefree perennials, thriving in poor soil, surviving drought, and returning reliably for decades without fuss. Despite their name, they are not true lilies — each individual flower opens for a single day, but a mature clump produces dozens of buds per scape, delivering weeks of color. Modern hybrid cultivars span nearly every hue except true blue and offer rebloom, fragrance, and ruffled or spider-form flowers.
When to plant and harvest daylilies
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
Not applicable — propagated by division or bare-root fans, not from seed
Transplant outdoors
Early spring (before 4 in of new growth) or early fall (at least 6 weeks before hard frost) from bare-root or potted divisions
Direct sow
Not applicable
Harvest
Summer bloom typically June–August; reblooming cultivars extend into September–October
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How to grow daylilies step by step
- 1
Plant bare-root fans in early spring or early fall with the crown at soil level — planting too deep delays flowering.
- 2
Water in thoroughly and keep soil evenly moist for the first 3–4 weeks until roots are established.
- 3
Mulch around (not over) the crown to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- 4
Deadhead spent flower scapes once all buds on a stalk have opened to keep plants tidy; some reblooming cultivars will send up a second flush.
- 5
Divide clumps every 4–5 years in early spring or fall when the center becomes congested and bloom declines — use a sharp spade to separate fans, each with roots attached.
- 6
Fertilize lightly in spring with a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer; avoid high-nitrogen products that push leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Common problems growing daylilies
⚠ Few or no blooms
Most often too much shade or excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Move to a sunnier spot and switch to a phosphorus-forward bloom fertilizer.
⚠ Daylily rust (orange powdery pustules on leaves)
A fungal disease; remove and discard infected foliage and avoid overhead watering. Widely available rust-resistant cultivars are the simplest long-term solution.
⚠ Crowded clumps with declining flower count
This is normal after 4–5 years. Dig and divide in early spring or fall: separate fans with a sharp spade, replant the vigorous outer sections at the original spacing, and compost the woody center.
⚠ Deer browsing flower buds
Daylily buds are a deer delicacy. Spray foliage and buds with a scent-based repellent (reapply after rain), use motion-activated sprinklers, or plant in a fenced bed.
✓ Good companions for daylilies
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting daylilies
Daylily flowers, buds, and young spring shoots are edible and widely used in Chinese cuisine — each part has a slightly different texture and flavor. Harvest flowers the morning they open, when flavor is freshest; they can be eaten raw in salads, stuffed and baked like squash blossoms, or lightly battered and fried. Unopened buds can be stir-fried, pickled, or dried for use in soups. Some individuals experience mild digestive upset when eating large quantities, so start with small amounts. Important note: while daylilies (Hemerocallis) are non-toxic to people and dogs, all parts are toxic to cats — place plants accordingly if cats have garden access.
Daylilies: frequently asked questions
When should you plant daylilies?＋
In most regions you transplant early spring (before 4 in of new growth) or early fall (at least 6 weeks before hard frost) from bare-root or potted divisions. Timing is relative to your last frost, so find your USDA hardiness zone for the exact planting dates where you live.
Are daylilies the same as true lilies?＋
No — daylilies (Hemerocallis) are entirely different from true lilies (Lilium). Daylilies grow from fleshy root crowns and produce fan-like foliage that dies back each winter; true lilies grow from scaly bulbs. An important safety distinction: true lilies are severely toxic to cats, while daylilies are non-toxic to people and dogs but still harmful to cats. Never assume they are interchangeable.
Do daylilies spread and become invasive?＋
The old tawny daylily (Hemerocallis fulva — the orange "ditch lily") spreads vigorously by rhizomes and is considered a nuisance in some regions. Modern named hybrid cultivars are well-behaved clumpers that expand slowly and benefit from dividing every few years. Choosing named hybrids over wild or unnamed orange types avoids invasiveness concerns entirely.
Sources & review
Written and maintained by the Plants by Zone Editorial Team. Planting times are based on USDA hardiness zones and NOAA frost-date normals, with care guidance drawn from Cooperative Extension sources. Last reviewed June 1, 2026.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone MapNOAA U.S. climate normalsCooperative Extension
Grow daylilies in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside daylilies, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
