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Few gardeners need an introduction to the daylily. It is tough, reliable, and popular. Its flowers rise 12 to 36 inches, sometimes more, above its thick, grass like foliage. The color range is tremendous, especially when you consider that the first breeders began with only yellow, orange and burgundy. You can find lilies with flowers in many shades of peach, creamy white, lavender, red, purple, rose and pink, in double and single forms, ranging in size from two to six inches. In Louisiana, the evergreen and semi-evergreen varieties are most successful. They should be planted in fall and early spring, and are best divided and replanted in the fall. They need at least 6 hours of sun. Older types of daylilies can be seen growing in ditches along side roads, but modern varieties prefer sunny beds with good drainage. Faded flowers should be removed to encourage further blooming. Daylily flowers and flower buds are edible. the name "daylily" arose because each flower lasts only one day before it fades. Even though each flower lasts but a day, many flowers are produced over a long period.
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