How to Choose the Right Daylily for Your Garden
Every summer, something magical happens on our 1.5 acres in the Loess Hills of Southwest Iowa. Hundreds of daylilies open their faces to the sun, filling the air with color and fragrance, and I watch visitor after visitor stop mid-path and just... breathe it in.
Then they turn to me and ask the same question: "Where do I even begin?"
I love that question. Because the truth is, choosing a daylily does not have to be complicated. You just need to know what to look for. And after growing over 286 varieties here at Hillsdale Lily Garden, I have learned a thing or two about matching the right plant to the right gardener.
Here is my personal guide to help you find your perfect daylily, whether you are planting your first garden bed or adding to a collection you have been building for years.
Start With Bloom Time
One of the first things I tell new daylily gardeners is this: if you choose wisely, you can have daylilies blooming from late May all the way into August. The key is picking a mix of early, mid-season, and late bloomers.
Here at the garden, we organize our plants by bloom time so you can plan for a full season of color. A few of my favorites to get you started:
Rosy Returns is one of the earliest and most reliable bloomers we carry, and it just keeps going all season long. The soft pink flowers are cheerful and unfussy, and it has earned a permanent spot in my heart for exactly that reason.
Going Bananas blooms early and reblooms generously. Bright, sunny yellow petals that practically glow in the garden. A wonderful one for beginners.
El Desperado is a late-season stunner that extends the show well into August, with rich cream petals and a deep purple eye that stops people in their tracks.
Think About Your Space and Sun
Daylilies are wonderfully adaptable, but they do their best work in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. If you have a partly shaded spot, do not count yourself out. Many varieties will still bloom in part shade, though you may get slightly fewer flowers.
For height, think about where the plant will live. Taller varieties work beautifully at the back of a border or along a fence. Shorter, compact varieties are perfect for the front of a bed or in containers.
Bumble Bee is one of our tiniest plants at just 12 inches tall, but it is packed with personality. A miniature daylily with golden blooms and a cheerful presence in any small space.
Heavenly United We Stand grows tall and bold, perfect for making a statement at the back of a border. When it blooms, you will know it.
Pick a Color That Speaks to You
This is the fun part. Daylilies come in nearly every color you can imagine, from the palest near-white all the way to the deepest near-black purple. We grow them all at Hillsdale, and every summer I fall in love with different ones.
If you love warm, fiery tones: Lava Flow is a vivid red-orange that looks absolutely electric in afternoon light. It is one of our most eye-catching plants and it photographs beautifully too.
If you love soft, romantic pastels: Elegant Candy is a personal favorite. Creamy pink petals with a rose eye, and it reblooms reliably all summer. It is the kind of flower you plant and then find yourself walking out just to check on it.
If you want something dramatic and unexpected: Bela Lugosi is a deep, rich purple that has been a visitor favorite for years. It has a certain mystery to it that is hard to explain until you see it in person.
Consider Rebloom
Most daylilies bloom once per season, but some varieties, called reblooming daylilies, will put on a second or even third show throughout the summer. If you want maximum color for minimum effort, look for reblooming varieties.
In our Iowa climate, I have found that reblooming varieties perform especially well when they are well-watered during dry spells and deadheaded regularly. A little attention goes a long way.
Some of our best reblooming varieties include Rosy Returns, Elegant Candy, Cobalt Rings, and Dragon Flight. Each of them earns their place in the garden many times over.
When in Doubt, Start With a Starter Collection
If you are brand new to daylilies and feeling a little overwhelmed by the choices, that is completely normal. We have 286 varieties here. Even I get overwhelmed sometimes.
That is exactly why we put together our Starter Collection, a curated group of our most proven, beginner-friendly varieties at a special price. It is the perfect way to get your first bed planted with confidence, knowing each plant has been hand-selected to thrive in Midwest gardens.
You can shop the Starter Collection here, or browse our full selection of over 150 varieties available to ship right to your door.
Come See Them in Person
Of course, the very best way to choose a daylily is to come walk through the garden yourself. There is something about seeing them in full bloom, in real light, on a warm July morning, that no website can replicate.
We are open seasonally at 61258 US Highway 275 in Glenwood, Iowa, and Todd and I are always happy to walk the garden with you and help you find exactly what you are looking for. Peak bloom is typically in early July, and it is something worth making the drive for.
However you find your way to us, whether online, at the garden, or through one of our events, I hope you leave with a lily or two that makes you smile every time it blooms. Because that is really what this is all about.
It is silly not to have lilies.
With love from the garden, Lu Peverill Hillsdale Lily Garden | Glenwood, Iowa
Ready to find your perfect daylily? Browse our full collection at hillsdalelily.com and enjoy free shipping on orders over $50.