Paula Dyason from Strictly Daylilies April's meeting

In April, we had a wonderful talk and presentation by Paula Dyason from Strictly Daylilies. Daylilies proper name is Hemerocallis. In fact Hemerocallis are not lilies at all and were misnamed but it stuck. The talk was accompanied by some wonderful pictures and a selection of daylilies to purchase. (https://strictlydaylilies.com)

Paula told us her history, how she came from America when she married her English husband and started growing daylilies in their garden. She was then contacted by a nursery that was closing and bought all their stock. Paula now holds the national collection of British daylilies.

Paula told us that you could eat the petals and the buds just like courgette flowers, if that takes your fancy.

Paula told us how she hybridizes (propagates) new varieties. This is a 3-year process. Selecting the best ones in year 1, discarding the rest, and then selecting the best ones in year 2 and discarding the rest. Again in year 3 until the best have been selected for beauty, hardiness and longevity of flowering.

They are easy perennials to care for.

 Sun or part shade. They flower better in full sun but do require a moist soil, so water them.

 PH – not fussy.

 Low feeders so don’t generally need feeding unless you have very poor soil.

 Dead head to save wasted energy for the plant.

 Pests – They can get ‘Gall Midge’. This causes the buds to deform and fail to open. If you see this, pick them off and put in your black bin or burn. Don’t put in the green waste. The earlier varieties are more prone to the midge.

 The leaves tend to go messy once the plant has flowered, but you can cut them off without harming the plant. In fact, it will regrow and may reflower.

 To propagate, dig up the clump; rinse off the soil so you can see the crown; cut the foliage down to 2-3 inches, split the clump and then replant.