Types of Daylily plants
Daylilies hybridize readily and some 35000 cultivars have now been officially registered. This figure is being increased by some 200-400 new named cultivars each year. The American Hemerocallis Society has categorized Daylily cultivars in several ways:
1: Plants are grouped as: a. Evergreen –They continuously produce new leaves and leaves remain green throughout winter.
b. Dormant – In excessive cold weather, their foliage dies and forms resting buds at the crown. The leaves emerge from the buds at the onset of spring (February).
c. Semi-evergreen – It comprises those plants which are neither grouped as dormant nor as evergreen.
2: Leaves: They vary from graceful and grass like (H.minor) to coarse, strap like (H.fulva). Their length varies from 30cm. (H. ‘EenieWienie`) to 1.5 m (H.altissima). Mature foliage varies in colours from blue green to mid or dark green or yellowish.
3: Height of flower scape:
It should be proportional to the height of leaf.
Dwarf -Below 30 cm.
Low- 30-60 cm
Medium-60-90 cm
Tall-Over 1 meter
4: Size of flower bloom (in diameter):
Miniature: Less than 7.5 cm
Small flowered:7.5-11.5 cm
Large flowered: Over 11.5 cm
5: Flower colour and pattern: Self, blends, polychrome, biotone, reverse bio tone, bi colour, reverse bio colour, banded eye zone, edged, haloed, tipped or water marked.
6: The season of blooming is categorized as - Extra Early, Early, Early-mid season, Late mid season, Late, and Very Late. Some cultivars show repeat blooming i.e. bloom in one season as well as next season.
7: Flower forms:
Natural flower form is trumpet shaped, but the modern hybrid flowers have different forms like circular, triangular, star-shaped, flat or spider-like. Those with more than six segments are called doubles or camellia forms.
8: Bloom texture
It refers to the quality of surface of the flower. It can be smooth, velvety, and creped or may have an overlay known as diamond dusting.
9: Flower colour
The wild types are found in shades of yellow and orange where as modern hybrid Daylilies bear vivid colours like yellow, red, pink, purple, cream, brown and peach. However pure white and pure blue cultivars have not been grown successfully until today.
10: Blooming habits
It denotes the time of flower bloom. A) Diurnal- Most species are diurnal as they bloom in the morning and last until evening. B) Nocturnal-These species open their flowers in late afternoon and remain open all night. C) Extended bloom- Those flowers which remain open up to 16hours. Both diurnal and nocturnal species may have this property.
According to the chromosome count Daylilies have two groups
(a) Tetraploids - They have four sets of chromosomes and are grown dominantly due to their advantages over diploids. Flowers are larger and have more intense colour. Scapes are sturdy.
(b) Diploids - They have two sets of chromosomes. Diploids have their exclusive charm & beauty. Pink coloured spider & double Daylilies are more prevalent in diploid variety. Many diploid Daylilies have been converted to tetraploids.