How Do Single-Petal Daylilies Become Double-Petal Daylilies?

DaylilyCare.com suggests that daylilies are the gardener’s perfect perennial due to their hardy, straightforward and drought-tolerant characteristics. Daylilies come in many colors and patterns, and bloom in both double- and single-petal variations.

The Facts: Single-Petal Daylilies

• Single-petal daylilies are standard daylilies, with only one level of petals. These flowers have a total of five petals and come in a range of patterns that include pinks, reds, yellows, whites, purples, oranges and browns.

The Facts: Double-Petal Daylilies

• Double-petal daylilies have a second layer of petals underneath the first. According to Herbs2000.com, this gives them a fuller, more ruffled look. They come in the same colors and patterns as single-petal daylilies.

Origins

• According to Herbs2000.com, the double-petal characteristic first occurred in single-petal daylilies as a flaw. Certain plants had a tendency to produce flowers with double petals rather than single ones. These double-petal plants and their flowers were isolated and selectively cross-pollinated (bred) to perfect this characteristic.

Hand-Pollinating

• Today, daylilies are available in both double-petal and single-petal varieties at nurseries around the country. Many single-petal daylilies produce double-petal flowers in a genetic mutation. Encourage this in daylilies by hand-pollinating double-petal variations to other double-petal variations, then harvesting and planting the seeds to develop your own double-petal lily.

Daylily Growing Needs

• All daylilies require the same basic care if they’re to bloom and pollinate, or produce double-petal flowers. Grow daylilies in quick-draining soil, with full sun and plenty of water. Cut off spent flower stalks during the growing season to encourage reblooming and more pollination opportunities.