Photo: Ragnhild&Neil Crawford from Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Daylily: when and how to prune
Hemerocallis × hybrida
Daylily is best pruned in March and September.
| Pruning months | March and September |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–August |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
Daylily: when to prune it?
After flowering, in late August–September, cut off the bare flower stems. In March, clear the dead leaves.
Daylily: how to prune it?
- During flowering, pick off faded blooms without damaging the buds next to them.
- Cut flower stems off at the base once they have finished.
- Let the leaves die down in autumn and remove them in March, before the new leaves appear.
- Brown leaf tips in summer can simply be trimmed off.
How much to cut, and how often?
- There are 2 pruning periods a year: March and September. You don’t have to prune in every one.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Don’t cut more than you need to: what stays standing gives insects and birds food and shelter.
Caution: Do not put buds infested by hemerocallis gall midge on the compost heap; put them in the household waste. Daylily is poisonous: wear gloves and keep clippings away from children, pets and livestock.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.