Daylilies are extremely versatile. They work in sunny beds as well as some shade situations, in xeriscape (arid) designs and in moister areas. Daylilies look best massed in groups of one color next to groups of another color. Be careful to harmonize the colors with other nearby flowering plants for best effect. Daylilies are excellent for meadow gardening and as groundcovers, especially for soil retention on hillsides. For mass planting purposes older, diploid types that have roots that spread by means of rhizomes are best. Lemon Lily (Hemerocallis flava) is a good choice.
Daylilies make wonderful long blooming borders along walks and drives. Certain types are night bloomers, ideal for evening gardens. Use evergreen types as foundation plantings instead of the tired old shrubs. Interplant them with spring bulbs, so the emerging daylily foliage will mask the unsightly ripening bulb foliage in early summer. Dwarf types do well in rock gardens or use them as natural, informal plantings around ponds and along property lines.
Container Gardening - They also do well in containers. Plant daylilies in groups of 3 roots each of the same color, using a container that is at least 18 inches in diameter and 16 inches deep. Because of its small root system `Black-eyed Stella' is especially suitable for container growing. Dwarf `Yellow Tinkerbelle" will flower in a 4 inch pot as a houseplant. See Growing Plants In Containers and Containers For Plants in Yardener’s Tool Shed.
Cutting/Displaying Daylilies Indoors: Cut daylily stems with newly opening flowers in the early morning with a clean, sharp knife. Quickly plunge them into a pail of warm water for several hours. When arranging them in their container for display, add a commercial floral preservative or one-half can of citrus-based (non-diet) carbonated soda per quart of water to prolong freshness. Remember, individual flowers only last one day, but the several buds on the stems will open in succession for 5-6 days. The flowers may become smaller, and the colors paler as the days pass. For more information see the files on Keeping Cut Flowers and Cut Flower Supplies
Eating Daylilies: Daylilies are eminently edible. Different kinds vary widely in flavor, so be sure to taste test them prior to using them in the kitchen. Lighter colored flowers tend to have better flavor than darker ones. The plant contains considerable vitamin A and C plus some protein.
Early spring shoots make tasty greens; fresh flower buds can be breaded and lightly fried. Flower petals add color and flavor to salad greens. Chopped or diced they can be added to breads and pancakes. The Chinese steam or dry the flowers and use them in stews and they are a staple in hot and sour soup. The thick fleshy roots, when new in spring, can be eaten raw and have a nutty flavor and crisp texture. Caution: do not eat the flowers of any plant that has been sprayed with pesticides. If you have allergies to plants and grasses, do not eat daylilies.
