The Best Way to Keep Reblooming Daylilies Blooming

Like clockwork, Siloam Double Classic daylilies pop along the edge of my cottage garden. They’re in one of the toughest spots. Dry, full sun and absolutely no wind protection. It isn’t very forgiving. But they take it all, as though laughing in the face of adversity. By July 4th, they’re exploding with fragrant fluffy pink blossoms that I wish would continue from May to October.

Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen, but I can get four to five weeks out of them with this simple trick. Deadheading. It works especially well for reblooming varieties like the all-too-common Stella de Oro. No matter what type of daylily you have – early, mid or late-season blooming, reblooming, or not reblooming – all benefit from a pinch. It’s also very calming to begin or end each day with this simple but effective task. Think of it as horticultural Xanax.

How To Deadhead Daylilies

Aptly named, hemerocallis (From the Greek hemera meaning day and kallos meaning beauty) is a fleeting flower. By deadheading, you’re telling the plant to make flowers, not seed. Depending on the variety, a quick snip encourages the plant to send up new stems and buds. This is especially true for reblooming varieties like Happy Returns, Rosy Returns and Pardon Me.  If they aren’t deadheaded, don’t expect a whole lot of flowering after the first flush.

Simply snap off the dying flower between your fingers, being careful not to remove other buds surrounding it. Nothing to it!

Left undeadheaded, as the Stella de Oros were around the trees in my parkway, seedpods form at the tips of the stems. I’ve since removed all of the pods, but the plants have yet to send up new buds. Perhaps I waited too long and caused some confusion. Oh well, there’s always next year. Isn’t that the perfect gardener’s motto?

What daylilies are you growing?