Chicago Apache daylily

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; flowers best with at least six hours of direct sun. Some afternoon shade can help preserve the red colour in very hot climates.

Water

Water regularly through establishment and during bud formation and flowering. Established clumps tolerate short dry spells, but prolonged drought reduces flowering.

Soil

Average to fertile, well-drained soil, including clay that does not remain waterlogged; tolerates a broad range of soil pH.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m), including flower stems

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late summer; deep red, lightly ruffled flowers about 5 in (13 cm) across, with a yellow-green throat.

Foliage

Arching, strap-shaped green leaves forming a dense basal clump; foliage dies back for winter.

Growth

Moderate; develops a substantial clump over several growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the crown about 1 in (2.5 cm) below the soil surface.
• Water deeply during dry spells, especially while buds are developing.
• Apply compost or a modest dose of balanced fertiliser in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Mulch around the clump to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide crowded clumps every four to five years, or when flowering declines.

Pruning. Remove spent flowers if you want a tidier display, and cut finished flower stems back to the base. Remove dead leaves in late autumn or early spring; leave healthy green foliage to feed the plant.

Early spring

Clear away dead leaves and check that the crown is not buried beneath wet mulch.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water them in well, and apply compost or a light balanced feed.

Early summer

Water during dry weather as flower stems and buds develop.

Mid- to late summer

Remove spent blooms and watch buds for swelling or distortion caused by daylily gall midge.

Late summer

Cut exhausted flower stems to the base; divide after flowering if several weeks of mild weather remain.

Late autumn

Remove collapsed foliage and avoid leaving a wet mat over the crown.

• Plant in repeated groups through a sunny mixed border to carry deep red colour across the planting.
• Combine with ornamental grasses for contrasting flower shapes and movement above the arching foliage.
• Use in a hot-colour border with yellow coneflowers and orange-flowered perennials.
• Plant along a broad path or driveway, allowing room for mature leaves to arch without obstructing access.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Traditional, New perennial (prairie), Hot border, Low-maintenance and Farmhouse.

Plant it with: Black-eyed Susan, Purple coneflower, Switchgrass, Catmint, Salvia and Yarrow.

Wildlife: Flowers may attract bees and butterflies, though daylilies are not a substitute for a varied planting of locally suitable nectar plants. Deer may eat the buds, flowers and leaves.

• Daylily gall midge, particularly in the UK and parts of Europe: swollen, distorted buds fail to open. Pick off affected buds promptly and dispose of them in sealed household waste, not compost.
• Daylily rust, especially in warm, humid regions: orange powdery pustules develop on leaves. Remove infected foliage, improve air circulation, and seek local advice if it persists.
• Slugs and snails: young shoots and flowers may be chewed. Remove hiding places, hand-pick pests, or use a locally approved iron-based bait.
• Poor flowering: deep shade, an overcrowded clump, excessive nitrogen or a deeply buried crown can reduce blooms. Correct the growing conditions and divide if necessary.

Extremely toxic to cats: all parts, including pollen, can cause fatal kidney failure, and water from a vase containing daylilies is also hazardous. Any suspected exposure needs immediate veterinary attention. Daylilies are not known to be toxic to dogs or horses. Human poisoning information for this cultivar is limited; ingestion may cause stomach upset, so do not treat it as a food plant.

• True lilies (Lilium spp.)

  True lilies carry leaves along upright stems and grow from bulbs. Daylilies have arching leaves at ground level, leafless flower stalks and fleshy roots rather than true bulbs.

• Tawny daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

  Tawny daylily has orange flowers and can spread vigorously by underground stems. Chicago Apache has deep red, ruffled flowers and forms a more contained clump.

Hemerocallis comes from Greek words meaning 'day' and 'beauty', referring to the brief life of each flower.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring or after flowering, allowing time for roots to establish before winter. Replant divisions with healthy roots and several leaf fans; seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Hemerocallis

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.