Appearance

Growth form

This herbaceous perennial forms broad clumps from rhizomes. The leaves make a mound about 2.5 ft (0.8 m) tall, while flower stalks can rise much higher.

Leaves

Long, smooth, sword-shaped leaves grow from the base rather than along the flower stalk.

Flowers

Large orange, funnel-shaped flowers open one at a time. Each has six showy segments and lasts for one day.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• roadsides and ditches
• old gardens
• disturbed fields

Range

Native to temperate eastern Asia, it is now naturalized across much of North America.

Preferred conditions

It grows in full sun to partial shade and tolerates average or poor soil as long as drainage is adequate.

Growing it

Propagation

In much of the United States, orange day-lily spreads mainly when its rhizomes expand or root pieces are moved. Dense clumps can persist long after a garden is gone.

Toxicity

Daylilies in the genus Hemerocallis are highly toxic to cats. Eating the plant can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.

Connected species

Parasites

• daylily rust fungusPuccinia hemerocallidis

  This rust fungus infects Hemerocallis fulva and causes orange spots on daylily leaves in the United States.

Name and classification

About the name

This species includes Hemerocallis fulva var. fulva and the double-flowered H. fulva var. kwanso. Showy modern garden daylilies are often hybrids rather than this wild species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• The scientific name Hemerocallis joins Greek words for day and beauty, referring to the one-day flowers.