Day Lilies - conflicting advice

I'm a bit confused about the best planting spots for Day Lilies. It seems to be between them liking sun in well drained soil, dappled shade in well drained soil or that they don't mind woodland conditions - dappled shade in moist soil.

Can anyone clear this up for me? I have several awaiting spots in the garden (all 3 conditions are available in my garden!).

Thanks

 

I have of book on Daylilies by Diana Grenfall - and this is taken from the chapter on cultivation in her book.

Daylilies grow best in well drained but moist, rich, friable soil. Heavy clay can be the worst soil as it is usually badly drained and can cause rotting. But if the drainage is improved with copious amounts of coarse grit and organic material, it can be the ideal medium as its usually high in nutrients. Sandy soils are the opposite. They are free draining but the nutrients will quickly leach out. But these too can be vastly improved with generous amounts of organic matter.

Regular mulching and extra nutrition are necessary, augmented by a foliar feed in spring when the buds are forming.

Daylilies like about 6 - 7 hours of sun per day, In milder climates they should not be planted in shade. In hot climes the darker shades of red and red-black are best planted to receive morning sun and afternoon shade, otherwise the top layers of pigment can melt, producing an unsightly greasy effect.

Daylilies can tolerate windy conditions making them ideal for coastal or windswept areas. But newly planted ones need some protection until they become established. The colours are richer in cooler climates but less flowers are produced.


My own experience is that they are very tolerant. I have some in a damp part of the garden on thick but improved clay, with sun for less than half a day. Some in a damp part where they get 10 minutes of sun a day, and some in the same position in a large pot covering a manhole, but which gets very dry because I usually forget to water them for long periods of time. They all seem to do well even though I never feed them.

 

This sounds good then. I have mainly clay soil, but its good clay soil, as its been well manured and a lot of sand added in places.

I've just discovered daylilies and looking forward to seeing how they do this summer. From what I've heard they're a real asset to the garden.

Thanks for the advice Peter - always good to hear personal experience, rather than from a book.

 

Hi Aaron,

I live on Staffordshire clay, and I've improved it with compost, sharp sand and grit. I have 5 clumps of different Hemerocalis and each produces a fantastic display each year. They seem to love the mosture retention of the clay based soils and each of my clumps gets a fair amount of sunshine in the summer, so I think the fact that the soil holds on to its moisture is a good thing.

But then, clay soil is the best stuff once its been worked hard on for 10 or 15 years. :gnthb:

 

"clay soil is the best stuff once its been worked hard on for 10 or 15 years"

Some of mine would only be good for making bricks! :D

 

Hi Sussex Gardener
I have Day Lilies i bought with me from a flat i rented for a while, they were growing under slabs in a very poor front garden , very little if any sun ever got to them,

I think the moral is we molly coddle our plants when they are in the main a hardy bunch, :hehe: