They bloom fantastically and in a wide variety of designs. They grow in almost any soil and thrive without much effort. But they seem extremely exotic. Are they hardy at all or do they need protection from ice and snow?
Most daylilies are hardy
The majority are hardy
Most varieties of daylilies are extremely hardy in this country. As soon as the winter temperatures drop, the daylilies arm themselves and protect themselves with their own strength. For this reason, you usually do not need to worry about your valuable piece in the garden.
The roots of these plants are extremely fleshy and easily survive in the ground until spring. Some cultivars tolerate temperatures down to -30 °C. Most are hardy to -15°C or -20°C.
Beware of Florida breeds!
But in the world of daylilies there are also sensitive ones. These come primarily from Florida, where there are plenty of breeders who have made a commitment to daylilies. These sensitive little ones do not tolerate severe minus temperatures.
Therefore, if you have acquired such a specimen, make sure that you winter it well! Such sensitive varieties can be recognized, for example, by the fact that they are designated as wintergreen to evergreen.
How to overwinter daylilies
If you have planted a frost-sensitive daylily in the bed, you can cover it with a layer of mulch. To do this, place bark mulch over their root area in the fall. In addition, brushwood can be placed on top.
Usually it is the daylilies that are in pots on the balcony and terrace that need to be overwintered. It is significant that they were not previously fertilized. Fertilizer should not be applied too late in the summer. Daylilies are no longer fertilized after July, otherwise they become sensitive to frost.
How to overwinter daylilies in a pot:
- Cut back heavily after flowering
- Wrap the pot with a blanket, foil or fleece
- Place the pot in an area protected from the weather (e.g. balcony on the wall to the living room)
- Place the pot on a block of wood or styrofoam
- Water lightly from time to time throughout the winter
tips and tricks
After hibernating, you should gradually get the daylilies used to direct sunlight. Otherwise, burns may occur on the leaves.