Daylilies

HEMEROCALLIS (hem-er-o-KAL-is)Greek translates to

"Beautiful for a Day"

Daylilies arrived in Europe from China, Japan, Korea and Eastern Siberia, during the 16th century, and by the 17th century had crossed the Atlantic to North America. Crude homesteads being carved out of the forests in the New World were beautified by transplants from the Old Country. They were the carefree choice of pioneers who had no time to spend fussing with ornamentals. The appeal of the daylily with its vigor and rock hardiness, along with its ease in propagating, made it the perfect perennial. The plant also multiplies well and is seldom bothered by insects or disease. Of the dozen plus Hemerocallis wild species, two were definite favorites: the Tawny Daylily (H.fulva) and the Lemon Daylily (H.lilasphodelus). Both were treasured possessions at the turn of this century. Many escaped from abandoned homesteads and old cemeteries, naturalizing themselves with ease, and on occasion were referred to as roadside weeds in Eastern North America.Early English and European hybridizers created the first new crosses, but an American, A.B. Stout, deservedly became the most renowned of all.