Daylilies

Hi,
I 'inherited' a number of day lilies from a friend's recently deceased father's garden -" just go dig them up" I was told. Anyways, I did just that (along with a load iris ). Then I waited a year to see what would appear. Now I'd like to know which ones I've got. I'm not sure this is possible to determine just from a picture as there seems to be million of them. Plus I'd like to add to my collection and some would appear to be much more vigorous than others like the pale yellow one I've posted below - vigorous is good as I've got a lot of ground to cover. I've got two of the smaller variety then six or seven of the larger variety. This is yellow one is of the larger type.
Thanks

 

@Spruce is the man for the job Jennywren

 

Thanks, just looked at his photos WOW! Maybe he'll see this post and give me a few pointers.

 

Hi Jenny

I know quite a few by sight but considering how many may be hard to do, thousands of named varieties and I concentrate on Spiders and Unusual Forms

Looking through this may help give you a idea

But happy to help if I can
do you have any suppliers in France ?

http://www.polliesdaylilies.co.uk/news.asp

have had quite a few from Pollie always the correct plant and 5 star parceled up

North Wind Dancer

 

Hi Spruce,
Thanks for Pollie's site I'll have a go at using that to identify what I've got but as you said there are thousands of named varieties.
I found the French site below - better start writing my letter to Santa.
http://www.hemerocalle.fr/
Actually what I would like is the yellow one replicated in different colours. The one as my avatar while looking good in flower is nowhere near as robust as the yellow one above nor does it look as good when not in flower or flower for as long - see I want it all!
Jen

 

the smaller flowered varieties flower for weeks , all mine will be getting a hair cut soon to tidy them all up and make the borders look more tidy

Some are just over the top prices especially the new varieties from America , try ebay lots of bargains , see what the variety is then check out the normal price in the nursery that grow them before you get carried away I have seen plants that you can easily get hold of for a fiver go for 20 pound plus , I should imagine most places that sell in the UK will ship to France
another site is http://www.isfryndaylilies.co.uk/ its run by a mother and daughter prices are really good and hold a lot of the older varieties that I would think you would like and I have used myself , if you make a list I will rope in @simbad on here to help choose as well , she is on another gardening forum but I can easily get hold off her .

Spruce

 

That's an excellent site with lots of useful information. Sorry Spruce another couple of questions.
Some of the plants appear to have leaves that emanate all around the base and others look like the leaves just come out at two opposite sides. All my smaller ones are of the first type and some of my large ones are of this type. Does this have some significance regarding dormancy?
Finally, best split autumn or spring?
Many Thanks
Jen

 

Hi Jen

3 types

Dormant (die right back into the ground and all leaves drop off and die)
Evergreen (keep most of the leaves over winter)
Semi evergreen (lose about 70% of the leaves)

Some have fans , look a bit like a leek and the other like you have mentioned just sprout out like a normal perennial type , I have both type of foliage and do all 3 of the above.

You can split dayliys any time of the year but during early summer this may sacrifice them producing flowers , its up to you I prefer Autumn as the soil is still warm and moist they root in more quickly , big plus the dormant types easy to split rather than wait for them to regrow in the spring before you can see what you can split or not , you can also pot up a couple of spares as well which I tend to do, to either sell later in the spring or give away depending what mood I am in

Spruce

 

Fantastic I'm hoping to lift the lot and split into '5s' - for five island beds (might do six one for spare). That should give me about 100 plants. Doing a 'vide grenier' (car bootie) on Sunday - anything I take over a certain amount is earmarked for day lily purchase
Thanks again
Jen

 

Glad I can help

Spruce

 

Can you advise me please?

I have a clump of daylilies but very few flowers this year. I think they probably need splitting as I haven't done that for the last two years. Do you think that's the reason for poor flowers? I don't want to take up more garden space if they won't flower when split either! The leaves are strong and look healthy and they're evergreen.


Thank you

 

3 reasons they wont flower , over crowded as you have mentioned and they dont like being grown in the shade or other plants competing with them, so full sun and own space.

You will need to enrich the soil with compost /manure as they are heavy feeders if you want them flowering in the same spot for a couple of years I split mine depending on the variety every 3 or 4 years . I pass on any pieces left for friends who want them or sell ££ pays for compost and more daylilys

 

Thanks Spruce. They're in full sun but in a mixed bed and have spread so they're competing for space. I'll thin them out and see what happens.