Kinds and varieties of daylilies: description, features of care and cultivation

Despite the frank similarity in names, lilies and daylilies, whose description of varieties is presented later in the article, have little in common except the external structure of the flower. These are large herbaceous plants with a powerful cord-shaped rhizome, arcuate-curved leaves and large inflorescences.

In horticulture, the original natural species of the daylily and numerous varieties are used, affecting the beauty of flowers and the abundance of their shades. The plant is appreciated by flower growers mainly for unpretentiousness, high stability and mobility in culture, the ability to quickly form lush bushes, and also for a long flowering period.

The most popular are two natural species: lemon yellow lily, yellow. The varieties that the market now abounds in are derived from them.

Daylily Yellow

This is a perennial herbaceous plant. In the wild, it is widespread in Asia (temperate zone) and southern Europe. In gardens it is used as decorative, undemanding to the soil. This species of daylily forms a sprawling bush with linear curved leaves up to 0.75 m in length. High inflorescences contain from 3 to 9 large flowers. The funnel-shaped corolla can be varied: from golden yellow to saturated dark maroon. There are numerous highly decorative varieties of daylilies of this species.

Daylily lemon yellow

Perennial beautiful flowering plant, forming a powerful shrub up to one meter high. In the natural environment grows along the banks of rivers, forest edges, on the slopes of meadows, reaches up to 2000 m above sea level. The native land of the plant is China, Japan and Korea.

Large peduncles exceed leaves in height, with inflorescence of 2-5 large flowers on top. A distinctive feature of the species is a pronounced flavor. Flowers open in the afternoon or late in the evening, the top of the bud is purplish-black, and the perianth, as you might guess from the name, is lemon yellow. At home, growth is used not only as an ornamental plant, but also as a food plant (eating flower buds as a garnish or in soups).

Classification

Varieties of daylilies are very numerous. Moreover, annually they continue to be replenished with new hybrids with improved characteristics. It is impossible to present them all in the framework of one article. However, when choosing a daylily for your site, every florist should pay attention to several criteria that will help you navigate in this diversity. It is for them that I often classify varieties.

1. The height of the peduncle: low (less than 30 cm), medium-sized (30-60 cm), half-high (60-90 cm) and very high (from 90 cm).
2. Vegetation type: evergreen, semi-evergreen and dormant. The latest varieties of daylilies are most optimal for our climate, since they easily survive the winter at rest, and then come to life again with the advent of spring.
3. Terms of flowering (the international designation, which can be found on the package with rhizomes, is indicated in parentheses): early (E), medium-term (EM), medium (M), mid-late (ML), late (L). By months, the gradation starts from the middle of June to the end of August.
4. Time of blossoming: night, day and long-flowering. Many varieties have a pronounced flavor.

The best varieties of daylilies

Magnificent daylilies have rightly been called "Smile of the Sun". It seems that they do not care, and they smell in any conditions. The opinion is partly erroneous. If natural species are really very stable and labile in terms of cultivation, then the cultural hybrids require a little more attention and care. In this case, the favorites of choice are always plants with a long and abundant period of flowering.

We offer you three kinds of daylilies that meet all the requirements.

• Strawberry Candy is a semi-high grade (70 cm) with luxurious flowers that fully justify their name, up to 12 cm in diameter. They have characteristic corrugated petals of almost round shape, which makes them seem even denser and more pronounced against the background of greenery. One of the virtues of the variety is a long flowering period from the end of June to September. Moreover, there may be a second stage provided warm autumn.
• Stella D'Oro - almost continuously flowering daylily. Low-grown varieties (in this case, the height does not exceed 40 cm) are good because they can be used even on a small plot, creating an oasis of bright yellow flowers against the background of emerald green leaves. Flowering is continuous with short breaks from May to October. Flowers large - 6.5 cm in diameter, petals of rounded shape, slightly corrugated.
• Frans Hals - a tall variety (up to 1 m) with excellent endurance characteristics and a long flowering period, belongs to the category of two-color hybrids. The color is truly unique. Petals of uniform yellow color alternate with brick-red, in the middle of which there is a strip, diameter up to 15 cm.

Terry daylily: varieties

Terry daylilies in their beauty can compete with elegant lilies and even roses, although they are fundamentally different plants. Corrugated corollas have a different number of petals. To cover all the variety is difficult, in connection with which we offer you new varieties of daylily with double flowers:

• Double red royal is a plant that forms a shrub up to 75 cm in height with large (14 cm in diameter) mahrovo-velvet flowers of a rich wine hue and a silver edging on the inner surface of the petals. Blooms all summer.

• Just my size - a grade of 2014 with very abundant flowering. Terry flowers have a pale pink shade with a reddish "eye", diameter up to 7 cm.
• Ikebana star - a luxurious variety with large flowers of pale yellow color. The petals are slightly wavy and pale in comparison with the central part of the edge. The diameter of the flower is up to 15 cm. The fragrant variety blooms throughout the summer.

Despite the fact that the daylily species and varieties are completely diverse, the basics of its cultivation and care are the same for all.

Lighting

It should be noted that in the homeland daylilies are plants of shaded places (shrub thickets, forest fringes), but in our climate they need a sufficient amount of light, especially garden hybrids. Otherwise, neighboring with the host in the penumbra, they simply will not be able to prove themselves in full glory. Of course, the plant is very plastic and can grow even in the shade, but abundant and spectacular flowering is observed only in good light.

Relation to moisture and soil

To the moisture, the daylily is also quite loyal. A powerful rhizome can extract water from deep layers, and it is not afraid of surface drought. However, it is best to wallow the space around the bushes with peat or wood chips, so that there is no excessive evaporation.

Usual garden soil is suitable for this plant. With an abundance of sand, moisture will evaporate too quickly, in a heavy clay soil, on the contrary, it will stagnate, which will lead to decay of the root system.

Landing

The landing site largely depends on the characteristics of the hybrid. In particular, whether you choose tall or dwarf daylilies. Sorts of this or that group must be competently combined among themselves, and then the flowerbed will delight the eye throughout the season with its lush bloom.

Planting pit is prepared for each rhizome separately and carefully. Remember that at this place the daylily will grow for many years. It is now only a small piece of rhizome, and in 3-4 years you will have a spreading bush with turf up to 70 cm in diameter.

If the soil is fertile and moisture-permeable, then simply dig out the wells and plant the plant. If as a ground you doubt, then introduce into it pre-peat, sand, humus and fertilizer (potash, superphosphate, ash, etc.). When planting, do not bury the cervix, it should be 1.5-2 cm above ground level and be covered.

Watering and top dressing

As experienced gardeners rightly note, the daylilies do not cause much trouble in their care, but still require some attention. Grow them, meanwhile, even a budding floriculturist.

Daylilies are not fond of frequent and superficial watering. It is better to do this rarely, but abundant in the case of a prolonged drought, and so they grow beautifully with a normal amount of precipitation. Watering is carried out under the root to avoid getting drops of water on the flowers.

Top dressing with mineral fertilizers is recommended to be carried out two times. The first - in early spring, when only the leaves grow, and the second - after the peak of flowering.

Pruning plants

Withered flowers not only spoil the appearance of the bush, but also "pull" out of it extra forces for the formation of seeds. Therefore, as the color fades, you must remove the peduncles with a pruner. If the weather is wet, the petals will not crumble independently, cut the flowers completely.

Before the onset of winter, the entire aboveground part must be removed. As a rule, it is not enough time to dry up the foliage in our climatic conditions and die only due to frost. If it is left until the spring, the rhizome can simply burn out or vypret until the next season.

Mulching of soil

The procedure is very useful for plants and has several goals at once. First, as a result of sprinkling the area around the bushes with wood chips or peat, the rate of evaporation of moisture from the soil decreases. Secondly, mulching prevents the roots from overheating in the heat and freezing in severe frost in winter. Thirdly, the need for weeding and loosening is minimized.

Experts recommend using two types of mulch: wood chips and peat. First lay in some distance, the second - right next to the base of the bush, so that young shoots grow unhindered.

Use in the garden

Daylily has very wide possible applications in landscape design, thanks to the spectacular appearance. It can be used in group mono or combined plantings, skillfully beating the height and shades of different varieties. Excellent looking solitary plants surrounded by a flat lawn or along the shores of an artificial reservoir, along the curbs.

A variety of bright plant shades perfectly complements evergreen conifers and ordinary deciduous shrubs. Especially interesting is the beauty at a distance with varieties with yellow flowers, and saturated shades (burgundy, dark pink) are better used in the foreground.