How to Breed Daylilies

Some daylilies create bloom after bloom throughout a long period of summer and even fall, so that you have a colorful display for an entire season. Daylilies easily breed with each other to create additional types of blooms with a mixture of colors. The hardest part of this process is the waiting required before you can see the results.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• Toothpick
• Sealable container
• Top soil
• Growing flats
• Water

1. Choose two daylilies with healthy flowers in bright colorful flowers.
2. Scrape the pollen off the stamen of one of the lilies (plant number one). Use a toothpick to scrape off the pollen. The stamens are located in the middle of the bloom. There are six of them, along with one pistil.
3. Spread the pollen on the pistil of the other lily (plant two). The pistil is the long stem in the center of the bloom. Repeat the process, removing the pollen off of plant two and spreading it on the pistil of plant one.
4. Leave the plants alone for a couple of months so that they can make the seeds. Watch the seed pods and remove them from the flower when you notice them starting to open.
5. Lay the seeds out to dry for a day and then place them in a sealed container. Place the container in the refrigerator. Keep the seeds cool a minimum of four weeks or until fall.
6. Make holes in the dirt with your finger to a depth of 1/4 inches and 4 inches apart. Drop the seeds in the holes. Cover with top soil. Seeds are planted in the fall, and can be grown outside if you live where winters are mild. In the northern states, it is better to start the seeds in growing flats indoors and transplant the small plants to the outdoors the next spring.
7. Dampen the soil with water and check regularly to keep the dirt damp. Do not create soggy conditions. Water once or twice a week.