Learn About Unusual Forms and Spider Daylilies

The Many Types of Hemerocallis Add Beautiful Flowers to a Garden

Aug 22, 2008 Christine Eirschele

Hemerocallis comes in many flower forms. Learn about unusual form and spider daylilies, two types of beautiful flowers that will add movement to flower gardens.

Here is a primer on unusual form and spider daylilies, terminology used by daylily enthusiasts, where to find them and when to plant.

Spider Daylilies

The flower with individual petals whose length is at least four times its width characterizes spider daylilies. These flowers bloom high above the plant and create motion in a flower garden.

Spiders are often diploid daylilies. Diploids, or dips, are usually hardier than tetraploids for northern gardeners. Tetraploid daylilies, sometimes called tets, are valued for their large flowers, intense colors and sturdy scapes.

Unusual Form Daylilies

As the name implies, form of the flower, not color or pattern, is the basis for unusual form daylilies. An unusual form daylily will have three petals or three sepals with these unusual characteristics. There are three characteristics used:

Cascade – the petals fall and create a waterfall appearance.

Crispate – have petals tightly rolled, pinched, twisted or folded.

Spatulate – has petals broader at the end, shaped like a spatula.

Daylily Terminology

These words will often be heard while visiting display gardens or plant sales conducted by daylily groups. Here are some terms and their definitions to become familiar with:

Diploid – has two complete sets of chromosomes.

Dormant/ Deciduous - is a plant that looses leaves for part of the year, as during winter.

Evergreen – is a plant where its leaves persist all year.

Hardy – is a plant able to withstand adverse climate conditions.

Tetraploid – has fours sets of chromosomes.

When to Plant Daylilies

In the north, plant a daylily in spring. This gives the plant more time to root in before freezing temperatures begin. Northern garden beds need mulch, especially in areas where unreliable snow cover is common. The history of where a daylily was grown will offer indications of plant hardiness.

Southern gardeners plant daylilies in early spring or very late fall. Planted July through September, daylilies will find temperatures and humidity levels too high, making them susceptible to rotting issues.

Garden on Cedar Hill Road

Display gardens are great places to see a working garden and specific type of plant. Many display gardens are in the backyards of hybridizers who are dedicated to specialty daylilies. The American Hemerocallis Society lists more than 325 display gardens found in the United States.

The Garden on Cedar Hill Road, in Canal Winchester, Ohio, is a display garden worth visiting during the height of daylily flowering, in July. Visitors will see hybrids such as ‘Winter Quarter,’ by Fitzpatrick, 2002. This flower is an example of unusual form, a cascade that is a diploid.

The copyright of the article Learn About Unusual Forms and Spider Daylilies in Flower Gardens is owned by Christine Eirschele. Permission to republish Learn About Unusual Forms and Spider Daylilies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

H. 'Violet Thunder' Fitzpatrick, 2005	H. 'Anastasia' tet	Spider Daylily 'Twiggy' dip
Hemerocallis 'Winter Quarter'	Unusual Form Dayliy 'Primal Scream' tet