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The first step in successfully growing daylilies is choosing cultivars (that's the technical name for the different named varieties) that both appeal to the grower and perform well in our hot Texas climate. With over 50,000 registered cultivars to choose from, you are sure to find a daylily that fits your particular taste and style. To assist in selection, daylilies have been categorized by the American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) into the following categories. Singles Doubles Unusual Form Spiders Polytepals Furthermore, daylilies blooms have been further categorized by size. Miniature (blooms less than 3" in diameter) Small flowered (blooms more than 3" but less than 4 1/2") Large flowered (blooms more than 4 1/2" but less than 7") Extra large flowered (blooms more than 7") Daylilies can be categorized in other ways. Here are a few. By Ploidity (Tetraploids vs Diploids) By Color (Almost all colors except a true blue) By Foliage Habit (Dormant, Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen) By Blooming Sequence (Early, Midseason, Late) Daylilies come in almost all colors except for a pure blue. However, hybridizers (that's the technical term for those who are working to create new types of daylilies via a breeding program) are at work trying to perfect the elusive blue daylily. You might be surprised at how much progress has been made in this area. Thousands of cultivars in shades of red, yellow, pink, purple, cream, orange and many colors in between have been created. Multi-colored daylilies with patterns are also quite popular. Each year daylily clubs across the country poll their members to determine which daylilies are the most popular among their members. The purpose of the poll is to inform the members on what cultivars are being grown by other members. Typically, these polls give an indication of which cultivars are being successfully grown in a particular region. Selecting daylilies that consistently appear at the top of the popularity polls should give you your best chance of picking a daylily that will thrive in your area. 2006 Popularity Poll (Hybridizer's name in parenthesis along with year introduced) 1. H. Red Volunteer (Oakes, 1984) 2. H. Orange Velvet (Joiner, 1988) 3. H. Wind Frills (Tarrant, 1978) 4. H. Jason Salter (Elizabeth Salter, 1987) 5. H. Elizabeth Salter (Jeff Salter, 1990) 6. H. Beautiful Edgings (Copenhaver, 1989) 7. H. Ida's Magic (Munson, 1988) 8. H. Halloween Masquerade (Payne 2003) 9. H. King Kahuna (Clarence Crochet, 1994) 10. H. Moonlit Masquerade (Jeff Salter 1992)
Many DGD members find the Eureka Daylily Reference Guide to be an invaluable tool in identifying new cultivars to acquire. It is published annually and contains pricing information on a large number of daylilies and provides information on where to acquire new cultivars.
America's Favorite Perennial Inexpensive Daylilies for the DFW Metroplex - COMING SOON
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