GLOSSARY
THE BASICS Print E-mail

There are times the terminology used is not familiar, so we have included a glossary of terms to help you expand your knowledge of daylilies.


Hemerocallis (Daylily)

The scientific name Hemerocallis is derived from two Greek works meaning “beauty” and “day”, referring to the fact that each flower lasts only one day. However, a daylily plant will have many flower buds on each flower scape, many flower scapes in each clump, so an individual clump will have a profusion of bloom for several weeks to come.  Daylilies are herbaceous perennials in the Hemerocallidaceae plant family.



GROWING PARTS OF A DAYLILY


Roots- allow the plant to absorb water and minerals for the plant to grow and as a storehouse for food produced by the leaves. Hybridized daylilies are clump forming with a fibrous or a somewhat tuberous root structure. Native daylilies have stoleniferous root structures which allow the plants to spread out, these daylilies are difficult to contain in a formal garden landscape.


Crown- is the stem of the daylily plant. It is the solid white core located between the leaves and the roots. The crown is where the leaves, scapes and roots are produced. The leaves and scapes appear on the top of the crown and the roots are found on the bottom or sides of the crown.


Leaves- are grass like, long and slender with a prominent midrib. The leaves grow opposite each other from the crown creating a the illusion of a “fan’” of leaves. Each “fan” is considered a plant, multiple fans create a clump.


Scape- is a leafless stalk which bears the flowers. A scape will branch, providing a profusion of buds.
 
THE FLOWER Print E-mail

Color- The common native daylily we see along side our roads are typically orange or yellow. The modern breeding of daylilies has opened up a whole new world of possibilities, the palette of color encompasses the rainbow...near whites, cream, orange-pale sherbet to deep persimmon, rosy red to fire engine scarlet, baby pink to intense rose, dusty mauves, pale lavender, plums and grape purple, pale lemon yellow to vibrant yellow gold's. The possibilities are endless.  


Due to hybridizing, daylilies are no longer one color tone, today the color of a flower is influenced by the position or placement of color


Self- refers to the sepals and petals being the same color tone.

Blend- refers to the sepals and petals both having two colors distributed evenly throughout the flower.

Polychrome- refers to the flower sharing three or more colors dispersed over the petals and sepals. Typically the color combination is melon, pink, cream, and yellow (pastel colors).

Bitone- refers to the petals being a darker shade of a particular color than the lighter colored sepals.

Bicolor- refers to the flower having dark colored petals and light colored sepals.  The petals and sepals are typically different colors.



Color Patterns are a direct result of modern day breeding, this category continues to expand as breeders continue to explore the infinite possibilities of crosses.


Throat color- is limited to shades of yellow, orange, melon or green and is the color seen inside the center of the flower where the sepals and petals are joined together.

Midrib- is the dividing line of a petal or sepal that cuts it in half, the midrib can be cream, pale yellow or pearly in appearance.

Eyes- when a flower has a darker distinctly contrasting band of color outside the throat that is seen on the petals and sepals.

Band- when a flower has a darker distinctly contrasting band of color only on its petals.

Halo- is a band of soft color that is faintly visible, almost transparent.

Watermark- is like an eye, a band of color existing on the petals and sepals in a lighter softer tone of the color of the flower.

Edged or Picoteed- is a relatively new term for flowers that display a thin contrasting color or darker shade of the same color on the edges of their petals and sepals.

Diamond Dusted-flower shimmers in the sunlight due to tiny crystals in the flower's cells that reflect light, giving a glistening or sparkling effect of gold, silver or tiny diamonds.



Shape- Most native daylilies are what we call trumpet shape, however once again because of modern breeding new shapes are evolving.  Note that a daylilies shape is determined by how you are looking at it, front view (looking down on it) or side view.


Side view shapes include: trumpet, flat, recurved

Front view shapes include: circular, triangular, star, spider/spider variant, or unusual.  The names refer to geometrical shapes. 



Size of Flowers and Height of Scapes- The size of a flower and where it can be seen differs from variety to variety, however there are some daylily world norms.


Flower size

Miniatures are less than 3" in diameter

Small-Flowered are from 3-4.5" in diameter

Large Flowered are from 4.5"-11" in diameter

Double Flowered daylilies have 12 petals and sepals


Scape (alias the stem) height determines where the flower is seen in comparison to its foliage.  There are dwarf varieties to incredibly tall daylily varieties, making the daylily extremely versatile in the landscape.


Short/Low scapes are 6" to 24" high

Medium scapes are 24" to 36" high

Tall scapes are 36" or higher.



Bloom Time - For us in New Hampshire daylily peak bloom is late July, however there are daylilies that bloom in June and others into late October.  When planning your garden attempt to incorporate a combination of varieties with varying bloom times to ensure continuous color in your garden landscape. The bloom sequence below is based on our New England time table.


EE- Extra early, blooms early to mid June 

E- Early, blooms mid to late June

M- Mid, blooms mid July

L- Late, blooms late July to early August

VL- Very Late, blooms mid August to early September

Re- Repeat bloom, will rebloom in a given season after a rest period if there is sufficient water and bright warm sunny days.   


Bloom time varies depending on one's geographic location and local weather.  Most daylily plants will provide a profusion of color for approximately 4 weeks, some even longer.



Blooming Habit


Diurnal- the daylily flower opens it blossom during the early morning hours. This is the typical daylily flower.

Nocturnal- the daylily flower opens late in the afternoon, remains open all night and closes the following morning or early afternoon.

Extended-the daylily flower remains open at least 16 hours. Diurnal and nocturnal daylilies may be extended bloomers.

 
 
FOLIAGE HABIT Print E-mail

Dormant-these daylilies lose their leaves as winter approaches, completely dying back to the ground. The plant stops growing and forms resting buds at the crown that reemerge in the spring. These daylilies need a sleeping period to rejuvenate and perform well. Best adapted to cooler, northern regions of the United States.


Semi-evergreen- these daylilies do not fit the above description of dormant daylilies or below, that of evergreen daylilies. Depending on the variety they will display some characteristics of either dormant or evergreen daylilies. In our northern climates semi-evergreens tend to die back sooner than evergreens and may be sensitive to cold in the early spring. Your emerging spring plants may have accordion shaped leaves as they negotiate the cool spring temperatures, smoothing out as the weather warms up.


Evergreen-these daylilies retain their leaves through out the year. They do not form resting buds, instead they continually produce new leaves unless cold weather prevents growth. Foliage does die back in the cold winters, the crowns may need winter protection in northern climates. Perform best in the southern regions of the United States,however there are wonderful exceptions to this rule.

 
 
PLANT GENETICS Print E-mail

 

This affects overall vigor and appearance of the plant. 

 

Diploid - daylily has two sets of chromosomes. The flower form is more graceful and diverse with good color.

 

• diploid daylilies are easier to breed
• there are more diploid daylilies than tetraploid to date
• pink daylilies are still more prevalent as diploid
• diploid daylilies can be converted to tetraploid
 


Tetraploid- daylily has four sets of chromosomes, thus increasing the breeding possibilities for more diversity. (abbreviated tet) 

 

• flowers tend to be larger and the colors tend to be more intense
• the scapes are sturdier and thicker
• substance of flower and foliage is heavier

 
 
AWARDS Print E-mail

These accolades are presented annually by the American Hemerocallis Society. You can check out their website for the current listing of award winning daylilies. www.daylilies.org  


STOUT MEDAL (SM)- the highest award a cultivar can receive, given in memory of Dr. Arlow Burdette Stout, who is considered to be the father of modern daylily breeding in North America.  Presented by the American Hemerocallis Society annually to only one cultivar. 


JUNIOR CITATION (JC)- an award which focuses attention on promising cultivars or seedlings prior to their introduction. 


HONORABLE MENTION (HM)- awarded to cultivars which have been introduced for two or more years and have demonstrated excellent quality and performance beyond the regional level. 


AWARD OF MERIT (AM)- three years after receiving the HM, a cultivar becomes eligible for this award. It is presented for outstanding beauty and performance  over a wide area of the country. Only 10 varieties receive this award each year. 


DONN FISCHER MEMORIAL CUP (DFMC)- given annually to the hybridizer for outstanding miniature (under 3" bloom diameter). 


ANNIE T. GILES AWARD (ATG)- given annually to the outstanding small-flowered (3-4.5") cultivar. 


IDA MUNSON AWARD (IMA)- is awarded annually to the best double flowered cultivar which blooms consistently double. 


L. ERNEST PLOUF AWARD (LPA)- is awarded annually to the best consistently very fragrant dormant daylily cultivar capable of growing in most soils. The hybridizer receives a $500.00 prize. 


DON C. STEVENS (DSA)- is given annually for the best registered and introduced, boldly eyed or banded daylily cultivar. 


HARRIS OLSON SPIDER AWARD- is presented annually to the best spider daylily cultivar. 


EUGENE FOSTER AWARD- presented annually to the best late blooming daylily cultivar. 


RICHARD C. PECK MEMORIAL AWARD (RCP)- given annually to the hybridizer of the most outstanding tetraploid. Each hybridizer is limited to winning this award once. 


LENINGTON ALL-AMERICAN AWARD (LAA)- given annually, goes to the variety which performs outstandingly in all parts of the country.  To be eligible, varieties must have been introduced 10 years. 


PRESIDENT'S CUP (PC)- awarded annually to the hybridizer of the most outstanding established daylily clump seen in a tour garden at the AHS convention, as determined by a vote of convention attendants. 


ALL-AMERICAN DAYLILY-these daylilies must excel in twenty-seven criteria and perform outstandingly across five climate zones.  Given annually.