Common Daylily

Common Name: Common daylily
Scientific Name: Hemerocallis fulva
Origin: Asia

Description

Daylilies produce clusters of 5-9 large, showy orange flowers. Each individual flower exists only for one day. The flowering stalks grow 2-4 ft., while the long, grass-like leaves will grow to be 1-3 ft. long. Daylilies will spread through rhizomes, and will grow in dense clumps.

Habitat

Introduced in the 19th century as an ornamental, and valued for being adaptable and “low maintenance”, daylilies are able to thrive in a variety of habitats. They can be found in human-dominated sites such as abandoned fields and roadsides, but will also invade natural habitats such as forests and meadows.

Threat

Daylilies spread rapidly, producing clones through rhizomes. They form mats of tubers below ground and dense foliage, preventing any native plants from sprouting within a daylily patch.

Management

Daylily patches can be dug out of the ground. All the tubers must be removed and disposed of in a landfill. Herbicides may also be used through foliar applications.

Regional Distribution

Unknown

WNY PRISM Priority

Tier 3 – Containment

Invasive Species Priorities – Tier Chart

Native Alternatives

Canada lily (Lilium canadense)

Wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum)

Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor)