Why daylilies belong in your garden
If you want a garden that looks colorful all summer without endless work, daylilies (Hemerocallis) are hard to beat. They thrive in almost any soil, shrug off heat and drought, and reward you with wave after wave of cheerful blooms. Whether you’re a first-time gardener or just want a low-effort splash of color, this guide helps you pick the right varieties with confidence.
What exactly are daylilies (Hemerocallis)?
Despite the name, daylilies aren’t true lilies. Each flower opens for just one day, but a single plant produces dozens of buds, so the show lasts for weeks. They grow from tough clumps of grassy foliage and come back bigger every year. With thousands of named varieties in nearly every color, there’s a daylily for every garden style and climate.
Daylilies at a glance
Full sun to part shade
Bloom time
Early to late summer
Care level
Very easy
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
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Top 5 daylily varieties to plant
These crowd-favorite varieties are easy to find, easy to grow, and loved by gardeners around the world. Each one earns its place for reliability, color, or an extra-long blooming season.
Best overall
Stella de Oro
Golden yellow
The most popular daylily in the world for good reason. It’s compact, tough, and reblooms from late spring well into fall — perfect for borders and beginners.
Showstopper
Ruby Spider
Deep ruby red
Huge, spidery 9-inch blooms in rich red make this a true focal point. It loves heat and adds dramatic color to any sunny bed.
Rich color
Purple de Oro
Royal purple
A vivid purple cousin of Stella de Oro that reblooms reliably. Its jewel-toned flowers pop beautifully against green foliage and pair well with yellows.
Long bloomer
Barbara Mitchell
Soft rose pink
An award-winning variety with large, ruffled pink blooms and a gentle fragrance. One of the longest-flowering pinks you can grow.
Classic
Frans Hals
Orange & gold bicolor
A bold bicolor with orange and yellow petals that lights up the garden. Vigorous, dependable, and a long-time favorite for sunny borders.
Which daylily is right for you?
Best for beginners
Start with Stella de Oro. It forgives almost any mistake, needs little watering once established, and blooms for months — perfect for building early gardening confidence.
Best for long bloom
Choose reblooming varieties like Barbara Mitchell or Purple de Oro. These keep producing fresh flowers from early summer into autumn for non-stop color.
Best for your climate
Most daylilies thrive in zones 3–9, covering the US, UK, Canada, Europe and much of Australia. In hot regions, heat-loving Ruby Spider shines; in cooler areas, dormant types overwinter best.
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How to grow daylilies (the easy way)
1 Pick a sunny spot
Daylilies bloom best with at least 6 hours of sun a day. They’ll tolerate light shade, but more sun means more flowers.
2 Plant and water in
Dig a hole, settle the roots so the crown sits just below the surface, backfill, and water well. Spring or fall planting works great.
3 Water lightly, mulch once
Keep new plants moist for the first few weeks. After that, a layer of mulch holds moisture and they need almost no extra watering.
4 Deadhead and divide
Snap off spent blooms to keep things tidy, and divide crowded clumps every few years to grow even more plants for free.
Daylily questions, answered
What is the best daylily for beginners?
Stella de Oro is one of the best daylilies for beginners because it stays compact, blooms for a long season, and handles normal garden conditions well.
Do daylilies come back every year?
Yes, daylilies are perennial plants. They return each year and often form larger clumps over time.
Do daylilies need full sun?
Daylilies bloom best with full sun, but many varieties can also tolerate part shade.
Which daylily blooms the longest?
Reblooming daylilies such as Stella de Oro, Purple de Oro, and Barbara Mitchell are good choices for a longer bloom season.
Are daylilies true lilies?
No, daylilies are not true lilies. They belong to the Hemerocallis genus, and each flower usually lasts about one day.
