How to Grow Daylilies in Oregon

Daylilies are vigorous and rugged perennials that will bloom in your garden for many years. They belong to the genus Hemerocalilis and have been around thousands of years dating back to 551 B.C. They come in many colors and varieties so a gardener will never get bored. Although Oregon is mostly in a mild zone 7, you do have areas in your state that are a lot colder so before you buy a daylily for your garden see your local nursery for a semi-evergreen or dormant type that will work with your climate best.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• Lilies from a local nursery
• Spade
• Good soil with compost
• Peat and a little mature
• Hand trowel
• Garden snips
• Mulch
• Fertilizer
• Water

1. • Select some daylilies that are appropriate for your zone and climate. Some of the best to look for in Oregon are Late Bouquet, Gypsy Caprice, Midnight Harvest Moon, Midnight Depression Glass, Midnight Pacific Mist among many others.
   • Pick a spot that gets 6 to 7 hours of sun each day. The darker reds and purples require a little less sun.
   • Plant the lilies in well-drained soil. They like a lot of organic matter in the soil.
   • Water well because this is the key to beautiful plentiful blooms. In the summer in Oregon they will need at least 1 inch of water a week and mulch around the lilies to keep them moist.
   • Remove old blossoms as much as you can to encourage more blooming and less disease. A bloom only lasts one day and when it is done it turns into a slimy mess so this can become a daily chore to deadhead them.
   • Remove leaves after they turn brown and wither in the fall. If they are completely dead they will come off with a slight tug. When all blooms are finished, cut off the stems low on the plant. Cut the fans back to about 6 inches.
   • Mulch around the spent plant to protect it over the winter. This will also help hold moisture but if your winter is very dry you can water them occasionally.
   • Fertilize with a time-release micro-nutrient in the fall and the spring. A handful around the base of the plant is plenty.
   • Transplant or divide crowded plants in early spring. Divided plants may not bloom that same summer. Dig the entire plant and gently pull the fans with roots attached apart. Plant the divisions so the crown is one inch below the soil level.

Tips & Warnings

• Plants will bloom in Oregon for 30 to 40 days. Daylilies come in a huge variety, some round and full and others with ruffled edges. With the help of your nursery pick a nice assortment to enjoy. Daylilies love very warm, humid days.

• Don’t handle your plants while they are wet from dew or rain. This can transmit disease or even something from your fingertips from plant to plant.