A Daylily isn't actually a lily which is one reason why it's spelled as one word.
The blooms of a Daylily last for one day though there are usually a cluster of pods waiting to open each day for it's one day life span.
"Showy, tough, drought and pest tolerant, easy to grow and thrives on neglect" should be the definition of the daylily, a hugely popular perennial.
From China the daylily was brought to Asia Minor, where as early as A.D. 70, the Greek herbalist Dioscorides referred to a form now called the Lemon or Custard Daylily (H. Flava) which is still grown today.
Originally the only colors were the orange, yellow and red still prevalent today, until the hybridizers in the U.S. and England started making drastic changes in the past 75 years. The hybrids available today far outshine the original daylily in beauty and color range.
They are now available in near-whites, pastels, yellows, oranges, pinks, vivid reds, burgundy, purple, nearly true-blue and blends of some or all. Very colorful.
Stuart's Aunt who lives in Florida would send D. and J. seeds from her daylilies over the past years. D. planted these seeds and now has 12 rows with an average of 100 clumps per row and more in beds that have come from these seeds.
None are named but the majority of them are absolutely stunning. He's thinking about going into a mail-order business and selling them. It's my job this year to start categorizing them and tracking the colors. It's early for daylilies but already there are gorgeous peaches and blazing red's and burgundy's blooming.
I don't have many in my yard because I just don't have a bed made exclusively for them yet though I think the Herb bed may be turned into a daylily bed soon since I have a lot in there already.
I call these frilly things my Orange
Tetraploids.
Very full with dark orange streaking that
is eye-catching.
The colors also withstand the heat
and sun and don't fade much at all of a day.
Since none of these flowers are
named, we could actually register a formal name.
I'd name this one: "Erica's Temperament"
Not the best picture but this gives an idea of the wide range of colors he has available.
A cupped flower about 4" in diameter of a shell pink color, orange throat with a mauve eye. Very different. The Dark flower is a single burgundy hollyhock.If I had a digital camera I'd take pictures of every color but since I don't, I'd go broke trying to get the film developed from the many rolls I'd have to take.
Ed. note: I NOW have a digital!!!! Whoo!
Unnamed mauve colored daylily. This photo added 5-27-03
