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 even hardy or do they need protection from ice and snow?
Are daylilies hardy?
Most daylily varieties are hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to -15 °C to -20 °C. However, sensitive varieties, mostly from Florida, require protection, such as layers of mulch or overwintering in pots with suitable protective material.
The majority are hardy
Most daylily varieties are extremely hardy in this country. As soon as the temperatures drop in winter, the daylilies prepare themselves and protect themselves with their own strength. For this reason, you usually don't need to worry about your valuable piece of garden.
The roots of these plants are extremely fleshy and survive in the ground without any problems until spring. Some cultivars can tolerate temperatures down to -30 °C. The majority is hardy down to -15 °C or -20 °C.
Beware of breeds from Florida
But in the world of daylilies there are also sensitive ones. These mainly come from Florida, where there are lots of growers who are committed to daylilies. These sensitive little ones cannot tolerate extremely sub-zero temperatures.
So make sure that if you have purchased one of these, you overwinter it well! Such sensitive varieties can be recognized, for example, by the fact that they are classified as wintergreen to evergreen.
How to overwinter daylilies
If you have planted a frost-sensitive daylily in the bed, you can provide it with a layer of mulch. To do this, place bark mulch over their root area in autumn. In addition, brushwood can be placed over it.
Usually it is the daylilies that are in pots on the balcony and terrace that need to be overwintered. It is important that they were not fertilized beforehand. Fertilizer should not be added too late in summer. Daylilies are no longer fertilized after July, otherwise they become sensitive to frost.
How to overwinter daylilies in pots:
- 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 wooden or Styrofoam block
- water lightly every now and then throughout the winter
Tips & Tricks
After overwintering, you should slowly accustom the daylilies to direct sun. Otherwise the leaves may burn.
