Yellow Daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus) is a cheerful, fragrant perennial that brings early spring color to gardens across zones 4-10. Also known as lemon daylily, it produces 4-inch trumpet-shaped flowers in a warm lemon yellow, each bloom opening for just a single day before giving way to fresh flowers the next morning. Growing 24-36 inches tall, this species daylily thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires only moderate water and minimal maintenance, making it one of the easiest flowering perennials to establish. It blooms reliably in May, filling the garden with a sweet fragrance that draws butterflies and other pollinators.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-10
36in H x 24in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
The fragrance alone sets this daylily apart; unlike many of its modern hybrids, the Yellow Daylily carries a genuine sweet perfume that fills the air in May. Each flower lasts just one day, but the plant produces flowers in succession over weeks, creating an almost magical daily renewal in the garden. It's genuinely tough, tolerating poor soil, summer heat and humidity without complaint, and it handles urban conditions, erosion-prone slopes, and even rabbit pressure with equal grace. Gardeners who want an old-fashioned perennial that asks for almost nothing while delivering constant beauty will find their answer here.
Yellow Daylily is grown primarily for naturalization in perennial gardens and landscape plantings. Its ability to handle erosion-prone areas makes it valuable for slope stabilization while providing season-long visual interest. The plant is prized by gardeners seeking low-maintenance perennials that attract pollinators and thrive in conditions where many other flowering plants struggle.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Deadhead spent flowers daily for neatness, removing each spent bloom by hand or with pruners. Once the flowering period has completed, remove the entire flower scape. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded to rejuvenate the plant and encourage stronger blooms.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.