Orange Daylily Hemerocallis fulva
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hem-eh-roh-KAL-iss FUL-vuh
- Description
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Orange daylily is a herbaceous perennial bulb in the daylily family (Asphodelaceae). Its native range is Asia, including China and Japan, but it has naturalized in Europe and much of North America (including North Carolina). The genus name comes from the Greek words hemera for “day” and kallos for “beauty.” This refers to the fact that each flower lasts just one day. The species epithet, fulva, refers to the flower’s reddish-yellow or tawny amber color. The plants are roughly 2.5 feet in height and width.
This daylily grows in full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained soil, but does tolerate poor soil as well. It is low maintenance with only moderate water requirements and naturalizes easily. The clump, which spreads rapidly by rhizomes, may be divided for propagation as needed.
The orange daylily blooms are very striking, up to 5 inches in diameter, their scapes rising up to 6 feet tall above the sword-like leaves. It grows in large clumps, naturalizing along roads and in older gardens.
Orange daylily adds interest to a perennial border, or when massed over larger areas. It is well-suited for butterfly, drought-tolerant, edible, or pollinator gardens. It may slow or halt erosion when planted on slopes. When not in bloom, the plants provide texture to the garden and crowd out weeds.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. The plant is reportedly toxic to cats.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common day lily diseases and other plant problems.
For more daylily options see Hemerocallis hybrida, which includes the showier hybrids that are more common in cultivation than the species.
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hemerocalis
- Species:
- fulva
- Family:
- Asphodelaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Distribution:
- Eastern US, and in parts of the Midwest, especially at older homesites
- Edibility:
- Buds and flowers are edible and have been described as having a sweet-spicy or peppery flavor.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Upward facing, tawny, unspotted blooms with a central stripe that last for one day; leafless flower stem
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- long, linear, strap-like, bright-green, 1 to 3 ft. long, and arching toward the ground.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Heat
- Humidity
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats