Double Daylily

Double Orange Daylily—June 13, 2013

This double orange daylily was obtained from my mother-in-law’s yard. I have seen this double feature become available only recently in commercial greenhouses.

Daylililies are named as such because each bloom lasts only a day. There are usually anywhere from 4 to 8 flowers for each stalk that arises from the plant. Daylilies can bloom once per year, or may be repeat bloomers if the environmental conditions are “just right”. This daylily blooms only once—but really puts on a show for the time it is in bloom.

Daylilies should be left to “naturalize” — continue to take care of them after the blooms have gone and this daylily will return each year with a beautiful show of blooms. The picture below shows the branch into two stalks, and how the plant appears after blooms have dropped off and an unopened bloom.

double daylily, side view

The branched stalk results in twice as many blooms from a single stalk. I’ve seen up to 6 stalks appear from each daylily cluster.

Daylilies are perenials that return each year to bloom. This variety will freeze down to the ground each winter, and then reappears in the spring. I have others that die back but do not freeze to the ground in winter.