December 02, 2002
858•535•8101
Daylilies--The “perfect perennial”
San Diego,Ca. -
Property owners looking for a low-maintenance yet attractive addition to their landscape should consider “the perfect perennial” ... the daylily (Hemerocallis hybrid). This is an appropriate reference, as these plants are easy to grow, make an impressive showing, and live practically forever with almost no care. Few plants are as tough, persistent, and pest-free. And these are even edible!
Daylilies are herbaceous perennials that bloom from May to September in Southern California. Each bloom is only open for one day, thus the name daylily. However, daylilies are prolific bloomers and compensate with flower buds that open on successive days, providing masses of color. They are highly valued for both their aesthetic and practical qualities.
The durability and low-maintenance characteristics of daylilies make them particularly desirable for commercial landscaping projects. Their ground-holding qualities make them a great choice as a groundcover in sunny areas where the soil is washing away or on a slope that is too hard to mow. They’re particularly beautiful as a mass display in flower beds, but make a nice perimeter plant or monument planting.
Daylilies may either stand alone, or can be combined with evergreens, flowering shrubs and annuals to create a colorful display. It’s best to choose companion plants that have a long period of bloom as well as large masses of foliage that are attractive even when there are no blossoms. Low-growing evergreens such as boxwood, liriope, star jasmine and juniper combine well with daylilies because they provide greenery during the months of the year when the daylilies are semi-dormant or out of bloom. Dwarf flowering shrubs such as Pittosporum ‘Wheeler’s Dwarf,’ Raphiolepsis ‘Pinkie,’ Nandina compacta and Pittosporum crassifolium ‘Nana’ also make good companion plants.
Daylilies come in a variety of shapes and sizes and a rainbow of colors, featuring everything from near-white to pastels, bright pinks and dark rusts. Some varieties even offer multi-colored flowers. Heights range from 11 inches to three feet or more, with blooms from less than three inches in diameter to more than eight inches. Some blooms have long narrow petals and sepals which often curl and twist, others boast wide ruffled petals, and others feature double flowers, for extra color and impact. The petals themselves might also feature many colors, with contrasting petal and eyezone colors, watermarks, varying petal edges, and much more.
Miramar Wholesale Nurseries offers the largest selection of daylilies in San Diego County, featuring more than 20 eye-catching varieties in everything from deep rose to bold red to creamy yellow. Developed over the past five years, Miramar’s collection includes the elegant Russian Rhapsody, featuring triangular-shaped plum-purple blossoms, or the festive lavender of Raspberry Pixie. For impact, you might choose Lightning Bolt. Those looking for a sure bet might select Stella D’Oro, winner of myriad awards and one of the best available. Regardless of which variety you choose, you’re sure to be pleased with the performance of this perfect perennial. It truly has earned its name.
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