The Hemerocallis species are of interest to people who wish to know more about the history and development of the daylily. Many species have unique characteristics and an understated natural beauty that lends itself to centerpiece plantings, cottage gardens and more. For further information, a good source of original information is A.B. Stout's book, Daylilies, originally published in 1934, it was reprinted in 1986, by J.M Dent and Sons, London. A more up to date reference is The New Daylily Handbook An updated anthology based on the classic 1968 Am. Hort.Soc. Daylily Handbook republished by the Am Daylily Soc. in 2002.
DID YOU KNOW..?
Hemerocallis (hem-er-o-kal-lis), the botanical name for daylily means in Greek ''beautiful for a day'. Each flower only opens
for one day. After it is spent, it is succeeded by the next
day's blossom. Established clumps bloom vigorously for weeks
and weeks.
The daylily is a monocot related to Orchids, Hostas and even
Grasses. Daylilies were originally thought to be in the the Lily family (liliaceae) but are now placed in their own family Hemerocallidaceae. and are in the genus
Hemerocallis . Daylily species were originally found in Manchuria,
Mongolia, Northern India as well as throughout China, Japan
and Korea. In their natural habitat daylilies are found in swamps,
seashore meadows, forests edges and on mountains up to 10,000
feet.
While there was some hybridizing of daylilies in the early 1900's it wasn't until the 1920's when Dr. A.B. Stout ( New York Botanical Garden link to A B Stouts's archives) began to working with daylilies, hybridizing and identifying the species that they really took off. Dr Stout did exstensive breeding work and developed dozens of hybrids. Since then daylilies have become nearly as popular as roses. They are collected, grown and hybridized by people around the world.
It is amazing to think that from approximately 20 species of daylilies over 45,000 varieties of daylily hybrids have been developed. While the colors of most species are orange, yellow or rarely pinkish there are now daylily hybrids in shades of red, purple, near white and more! With so many daylily varieties to choose from why would one want to grow daylily species?
Besides the historical interest of growing a species there are many traits that makes a species desirable. First in foremost in our opinion is the simple natural lines and form that species exhibit. The trumpet or simple star shapes of the blooms, the graceful narrow foliage and the loose growth habit of many of the species is delightful. Secondly as plants that have evolved over millions of years they contain potential adaptability that may not be present some of the more modern cultivars. Finally from a breeding standpoint the species may contain genetic material that could produce new yet undiscovered traits.
The daylily species listed below are arranged by bloomtime here in Vermont |
Hem. citrina next to a large tetraploid hybrid. Close examination demonstrates the differant characteristics between the two types.
Hemerocallis sp. in its native habitat in Japan. Coexsisting with various other herbaceous plants on presumably what is a seaside meadow. It is not clear which species this is though.
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Hemerocallis minor foliage:
Hem. middendorfii
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus 'Major
