Which Plants Complement Day Lilies Well?

Daylilies are a popular plant for gardens, with their blooms extending throughout the summer. They can be paired with various companion plants, such as Hemerocallis, Phlox, and Agapanthus, which offer a variety of colors and vibrant foliage. These plants complement daylilies visually and grow well in the same conditions as daylilies, making them ideal for edible plants.

Some suitable companion plants for daylilies include lavender, bee balm, and roses, which complement daylilies visually and grow well in the same conditions as daylilies. Perennial geraniums are easy to grow and care for, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, making them a good choice for those with a large deer population.

Daylilies can also be interspersed with other sun-loving perennials like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, or grasses for a stunning garden display. Some good companions for daylilies with striking foliage include Russian sage, hosta, and heuchera. Some shrubs with less aggressive root systems may pair perfectly with daylilies, such as Butterfly Bush, Lavender, and Shrub Roses.

Daylilies can have a shrub-like presence when planted among woody landscape plants like spirea, potentilla, hydrangea, and dwarf. Balloon flowers and Shasta daisies make good daylily companions, as do coreopsis and Russian sage. Monarda (bee balm) with daylilies is recommended, especially purple or deep pink cultivars. Echinacea and lady’s mantle can also be used as backdrops. If you have a fence or trellis, clematis can be used as a backdrop for daylilies, providing a beautiful and functional garden.

What flowers should you plant with lilies?

Lilies are optimal companion plants for perennial beds, exhibiting a preference for cool soil and warm sunlight for optimal flower production. It is recommended that these plants be planted alongside roses, Agastache, Echinops, Salvia, and Veronica, allowing them to receive partial shade while allowing sunlight for blooming. If necessary, provide support through the use of stakes and apply a summer mulch to maintain optimal root temperature. It is imperative to ensure that lilies are kept out of the reach of cats, as they are toxic to this species.

Do daylilies like to be crowded?

Daylilies can be divided after 4-5 years, depending on their growth and flowering. In late summer/early fall, they should be divided after blooming has stopped, while early spring is an alternate option in the North. To divide, trim the foliage to 8 inches, dig up individual clumps, and use a sharp knife or spade to separate healthy young plants with strong root systems. Each new clump should have at least 3-4 fans. Replant immediately in compost-amended soil or in containers for holding.

Daylilies come in various species, including the pale orange roadside lily (Hemerocallis fulva), the night-blooming Hemerocallis citrina, and the fragrant lemon lily (Hemerocallis flava). Most daylilies planted by home gardeners are hybrid cultivars.

Will daylilies choke out other plants?

Common day lily (Hemerocallis fulva) is an invasive plant in Chicago that can choke out other plants as it spreads. It is difficult to eradicate due to its thick tuberous roots, which can be difficult to distinguish from first-year day lilies. The roots left in the soil after digging out the orange day lilies can overtake the newly planted day lilies. Gardeners who discard entire day lily plants can unknowingly spread this invasive plant.

To combat this, try digging out all orange-colored day lilies, wait for them to re-sprout, and then dig them out again. This process should take six to eight weeks to complete. If new day lilies need to be planted earlier, mark them as they will look like the weedy day lily. Spraying the invasive day lilies with a nonselective herbicide like glyphosate can kill them, but it may take at least two weeks to work.

Remain vigilant for any returning growth from the orange day lilies and ensure that the day lilies growing in your new lawn fade over time with regular mowing. Tim Johnson, director of horticulture for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, can provide more information on how to manage this invasive plant in your garden.

How to landscape with daylilies?

Daylilies are a versatile plant that can be planted in mass plantings, bordering fences, stone walls, or structures, and in drainage ditches and rain gardens. They multiply over time, creating a weed-resistant border. They can be planted in single cultivars, blocks of multiple cultivars, or a mix of colors, heights, and bloom times. Daylilies are also tolerant of soggy soil, making them suitable for areas with heavy rain or high water tables. By planting daylilies in areas where water collects after heavy rain or has a high water table, they can create a dense, weed-proof display.

How many daylilies should be planted together?

Daylilies are a versatile perennial with abundant flowers and arching leaves. They are best when massed to form a thick, lush specimen clump for a perennial border or at the edge of a stream or pond. Plant several varieties together for a range of colors or for blooms all summer.

Plant Daylilies in a sunny or partly sunny location with at least 1/2 day sunlight. Remove any grass or weeds from the plant bed, mix soil with Peat Moss or Compost, and Bulbtone Fertilizer. Space plants 12″ apart within the bed clumps or plant in two or more staggered rows. Dig holes twice the width of the plant container, set plants so that the depth of roots in the soil is the same as their original depth in the container.

Fill the remaining holes with the soil mixture and tamp firmly. Water gently and thoroughly after planting and regularly thereafter. Spread a 2″ layer of Pine Bark Mulch in the bed to conserve moisture and discourage weed growth.

Topdress the bed with additional mulch as needed, feeding Daylilies lightly in spring and galling with Bulbtone or 5-10-5 Fertilizer. Leave dead foliage for winter mulch after frost, or in colder locations, mulch lightly with Salt Hay. Remove dead foliage and Salt hay mulch in spring to allow new growth to develop.

What not to plant with lilies?

To ensure the health and longevity of your lily plants, avoid using ivy and other ground covers that quickly form dense mats, as they can choke out your bulbs and provide hiding places for mollusks. Instead, choose plants that do not grow taller than the listed height for each lily cultivar, be mindful of watering needs, and avoid climbing plants that may strangle your stems.

Alyssum (Lobularia) Cosmos, Dahlia, Dianthus barbatus, Geranium (Pelargonium), Marigold (Tagetes), Nigella (Love in a mist), Pansy (great in coastal areas), Poppies (Papaver), Penstemon, Primrose (Primula), Snapdragons (old standard types can overwhelm if planted too close, but many are perennial in your area if planted in well-drained soil or under the eves of the house). Violets (Viola) are also great in coastal areas, and Zinnia (shorter varieties) are a great choice for lily plants.

In summary, it is essential to choose plants that do not require a lot of water, such as Alyssum (Lobularia), Cosmos (Sonata Series), Dahlia (Dianthus barbatus), Geranium (Pelargonium), Marigold (Tagetes), Nigella (Love in a mist), Pansy (Papaver), Poppies (Papaver), Penstemon (Primula), Snapdragons (old standard types can overwhelm if planted too close), Violets (Viola), and Zinnia (Zinnia).

What grows well next to lilies?

Blue-flowering shrubs, including Caryopteris clandonensis, Hibiscus syriacus, and Ceanothus ‘Gloire de Versailles’, are optimal companions for a diverse range of lilies.

What kills daylilies?

To successfully grow new varieties of day lilies, try digging out orange-colored ones, waiting for them to re-sprout, and then digging them out again. This process should take six to eight weeks. If new day lilies need to be planted earlier, mark them as weedy day lilies to easily identify them. Spray invasive day lilies with a nonselective herbicide like glyphosate to kill them. Dig out the roots once the tops turn brown, which may take at least two weeks to work.

Be vigilant for any returning growth from the orange day lilies. The day lilies growing in your new lawn should fade over time with regular mowing. For plant or gardening questions, contact the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plant Information Service at 847-835-0972.

Do lilies like to be in pots or ground?

Lilies grow well in containers, with taller types requiring support. Suitable species include Lilium auratum, L. formosanum, L. longiflorum, and L. speciosum, while suitable cultivars include Asiatic hybrids and the ‘Pixie’ series. Plant in early autumn, but bulbs can be planted until spring. Lilies can also be forced into flower for indoor display, with Asiatic hybrids, L. auratum, L. longiflorum, and L. speciosum. These bulbs are kept in a cool environment to flower without natural winter chill, around six weeks after planting.

How to keep daylilies blooming all summer?

Daylilies, known for their short, one-day flowers, are a popular type of plant. They bloom continuously throughout the summer, with key maintenance being watering and deadheading. Drought can slow down flower production, but deadheading every third day ensures the plant produces flowers all summer. Daylilies thrive in full-to-part-sun, well-drained soil, and compost. They can be divided easily in spring, summer, or fall and are edible, with unopened buds used in stir fries, open flowers stuffed like squash blossoms, and tubers roasted.

However, it’s important to avoid consuming lilium lilies, which are toxic. To maintain a healthy tomato seedling, brush them 10 times, twice a day, to keep them short and stocky. This will result in better growth than tall, leggy ones.