Plants · Flowers
Daylily planting zones
Daylily (Hemerocallis species and hybrids) is a perennial. By the type table below, at least one type lives through winter in the ground in 3a–10b; outside those zones, none of the types on this page is rated. Below the types are the dates its year turns on: each zone’s median last spring freeze and first fall freeze, from NOAA records.
Published October 26, 2026 · Cite this page
The types
Which daylily to grow
| Type | Hardy in the ground | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant daylilies Hemerocallis hybrids whose leaves die back in winter (e.g. ‘Hyperion’, ‘Happy Returns’, ‘Stella de Oro’) | 3a to 9b, then too little winter | Clemson says dormant types prefer colder areas. NC State’s plant toolbox rates daylilies zones 3a to 9b. |
| Evergreen and semi-evergreen daylilies Hemerocallis hybrids that keep their leaves (e.g. ‘Joan Senior’, ‘Always Afternoon’, ‘Wedding Band’) | 3a to 10b, then too hot or humid | Clemson: evergreen types do better in hot climates with very mild winters. Minnesota says evergreen and semi-evergreen cultivars are hardy there too. |
| Reblooming daylilies Hemerocallis cultivars that send up more than one flush of scapes (e.g. ‘Stella de Oro’, ‘Happy Returns’) | 3a to 9b, then too little winter | Hardy as other daylilies, but Minnesota says rebloomers are not successful there because the season is short. Missouri says to divide them more often. |
Zone ranges are a judgement: horticultural convention set beside what the sources below say, not a measurement. “Too little winter” means the type needs winter chill the warm zones do not give it. In the next table the freeze dates are measured, and the count of hardy types comes from these judged ranges.
Zone by zone
Where daylily lives through winter, and when the freezes fall
Each date is the median across every NOAA station the zone’s ZIP codes cite, 1991–2020 normals. The middle half of those stations falls within the range shown beside it.
| Zone | Types hardy in the ground | Last spring freeze | First fall freeze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a | 3 of 3 | only 10 stations with comparable freeze dates — too few to publish a date | |
| 3b | 3 of 3 | May 18 · middle half May 15 – May 25 | September 23 · middle half September 17 – September 26 |
| 4a | 3 of 3 | May 15 · middle half May 10 – May 21 | September 27 · middle half September 22 – September 30 |
| 4b | 3 of 3 | May 11 · middle half May 5 – May 23 | September 30 · middle half September 23 – October 3 |
| 5a | 3 of 3 | May 9 · middle half May 1 – May 20 | October 2 · middle half September 26 – October 7 |
| 5b | 3 of 3 | May 4 · middle half April 27 – May 15 | October 8 · middle half October 1 – October 14 |
| 6a | 3 of 3 | May 1 · middle half April 24 – May 9 | October 14 · middle half October 5 – October 20 |
| 6b | 3 of 3 | April 25 · middle half April 17 – May 3 | October 20 · middle half October 11 – October 24 |
| 7a | 3 of 3 | April 19 · middle half April 11 – April 27 | October 23 · middle half October 17 – October 28 |
| 7b | 3 of 3 | April 8 · middle half April 3 – April 16 | October 30 · middle half October 25 – November 3 |
| 8a | 3 of 3 | March 30 · middle half March 25 – April 5 | November 5 · middle half November 1 – November 10 |
| 8b | 3 of 3 | March 20 · middle half March 13 – March 29 | November 12 · middle half November 7 – November 18 |
| 9a | 3 of 3 | March 5 · middle half February 24 – March 15 | November 24 · middle half November 18 – December 2 |
| 9b | 3 of 3 | February 12 · middle half January 30 – February 25 | December 8 · middle half December 1 – December 17 |
| 10a | 1 of 3 | 107 of 190 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from | |
| 10b | 1 of 3 | 70 of 79 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from | |
| 11a | 0 of 3 | 34 of 34 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from | |
| 11b | 0 of 3 | 12 of 12 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from | |
“Types hardy in the ground” is a judgement, from the type table above. The freeze dates are measured.
A zone does not tell you your own dates. Inside a single zone the median last spring freeze still varies by 34 days from station to station, so the box below gives the dates of the NOAA station nearest your ZIP code.
Your ZIP code
Your ZIP, your answer
Enter your ZIP code to see your USDA zone, how many of the 3 types on this page live through that zone’s winter and when its freezes fall, read from the table on this page, and the freeze dates of the NOAA station nearest you.
Your answer appears here.
Full details for any ZIP code: ZIP code zone finder.
Which daylily for your zone
NC State Extension’s plant toolbox rates daylilies zones 3a to 9b, and University of Illinois Extension zones 3 to 9. University of Minnesota Extension says daylilies establish quickly and survive winters with little or no injury, and Clemson’s Home & Garden Information Center says they grow well in all areas of South Carolina. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions calls them among the most popular perennials grown in Florida.
The type that matters most is the foliage. Clemson says dormant daylilies lose their leaves as winter approaches and prefer colder areas, while evergreen types keep their leaves and do better in hot climates with very mild winters; semi-evergreen is in between, and both kinds grow in South Carolina. Minnesota says there are now semi-evergreen and evergreen cultivars that are hardy and bloom well there too.
Minnesota calls daylilies “regional performers” that grow well only in certain parts of the country, usually over three hardiness zones, and notes that most new cultivars are developed in the southern United States. Its advice is to buy from a local nursery or one in a neighboring state, visit a garden that features daylilies, or ask a local daylily society. Minnesota also says reblooming cultivars are not successful there because the growing season is short.
Planting, and how deep to set the crown
Minnesota plants daylilies as soon as the garden soil can be worked; Clemson calls early fall or early spring the best time, though daylilies tolerate planting at any time of year; UF/IFAS says they can be planted throughout the year in Florida, with spring and fall ideal. The University of Missouri Extension says daylilies can be divided or planted any time the ground is not frozen, with late August through September preferred.
The depth is the one thing the sources agree on to the inch. Minnesota and Iowa State University Extension set the crown, where the shoots and roots meet, about 1 inch below the soil surface; Clemson says no deeper than 1 inch; NC State covers the tubers with 1 inch of soil. Clemson and UF/IFAS space daylilies 18 to 24 inches apart.
Minnesota says daylilies flower best with at least 6 hours of direct sun, and that light shade in the hottest part of the day keeps the flowers fresh. Clemson says darker cultivars should be protected from strong afternoon sun that may fade the petals. Minnesota says not to plant them under trees and shrubs, which compete for water and nutrients.
Clemson says daylilies prefer slightly acid, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter but will grow in almost any soil except a poorly drained one; where drainage is a problem, plant them in raised beds. Missouri prefers a well-drained, medium-heavy garden loam.
Water and feeding
Minnesota and Missouri both say about an inch of water a week. Missouri waters with a deep morning soak at the base of the plant, since overhead watering during bloom can spot the petals; Clemson keeps watering consistent while the plants are budding and flowering for better-quality flowers.
Feeding is light. Clemson says daylilies usually grow adequately without fertilizer but grow best lightly fertilized in early spring and again in midsummer, with slow-release fertilizers best. Missouri says to apply fertilizer sparingly, since too much nitrogen can harm the plants, and that a complete fertilizer in spring as new growth starts is usually adequate. Illinois calls daylilies heavy feeders, and Minnesota uses a spring application of manure or compost.
Dividing daylilies
The sources disagree on how often. Minnesota says daylilies can be divided every three to five years; the UGA Extension Fulton County column says clumps need dividing after four or five years; Illinois says reblooming types benefit from division every 2 to 3 years, since it is the new growth that flowers, and Missouri that rebloomers such as ‘Stella de Oro’ should be divided relatively often. Clemson says division is not essential but may revitalize flowering in a crowded clump.
On timing, Minnesota divides in early spring or immediately after flowering; Iowa State in early spring as new growth emerges or in late summer; Clemson usually after flowering; UF/IFAS immediately after the plants finish flowering. In Georgia’s zone 8, the Fulton County column says late summer or very early fall is best.
Iowa State digs up the entire clump with a spade, shakes or washes off the soil, and pulls the clump apart, using a sharp knife on large, dense clumps; each division should have 2 or 3 fans of leaves and a good root system. Minnesota also keeps 2 to 3 fans per division with all roots attached and cuts the foliage back to 5 or 6 inches; Iowa State cuts it to 6 to 8 inches for a late-summer division. Replant at the same 1-inch crown depth. Iowa State says divided plants usually do not bloom well for 1 or 2 years, and Minnesota that a spring division may not bloom that summer.
Supplies
Supplies the sources mention
Each link opens an Amazon search for a plain kind of product, not one we picked. We have not tested these, and we do not rank them.
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- Bare-root dayliliesUF/IFAS says nurseries that specialize in daylilies sell bare-root plants on site, by mail order or online.
- Garden digging forksClemson lifts the whole clump out of the soil with a garden fork before working the fans apart.
- Pine straw mulchUF/IFAS mulches new daylilies with pine needles, leaves or shredded bark to hold soil moisture and reduce weeds.
Deadheading, fall cleanup and winter
Minnesota removes dead flowers after bloom to prevent seed production, since plants that set seed are likely to have fewer flowers the next year. Clemson removes spent blooms and seedpods to encourage rebloom, and cuts each scape off close to the ground once all its flowers are finished.
Clemson removes dead foliage as daylilies die back in the fall, and during winter removes rotted or damaged leaves from around evergreen daylilies. Minnesota clears the previous year’s dead leaves and any weeds in early spring, before growth starts, and adds a winter mulch of straw or shredded leaves for plants that are not yet established.
Common problems
Clemson says daylilies are little troubled by pests; the most common disease is daylily leaf streak, and the main pests are thrips, spider mites, aphids, slugs and snails. Minnesota says aphids and thrips sometimes feed on the flower buds and can be controlled with insecticidal soap or a repeated strong spray of water. UF/IFAS says daylily rust has spread nationwide; it is usually not lethal, and management relies on resistant varieties and cutting off and disposing of infected foliage. Missouri names leaf streak, rust, spider mites and thrips.
Deer are the other problem. NC State says daylilies are frequently damaged by deer, and the Fulton County column says plainly that they are not deer resistant.
NC State’s plant toolbox says daylilies are toxic to cats. UF/IFAS says daylilies, like many garden lilies grown in Florida, contain toxic alkaloids and can cause poisoning if eaten.
Common mistakes
- Burying the crown. Minnesota, Iowa State, Clemson and NC State all keep it about 1 inch below the surface.
- Planting under trees and shrubs. Minnesota says they compete for water and nutrients.
- Feeding heavily with nitrogen. Missouri says too much nitrogen can harm the plants.
- Expecting a fresh division to flower. Iowa State says divided plants usually do not bloom well for 1 or 2 years.
- Planting the tawny “ditch lily” in a bed. Clemson says it spreads far too rapidly to be recommended for most gardens.
We found no Texas, Louisiana or Alabama source for daylilies that we could read; Texas A&M AgriLife, LSU AgCenter and Alabama Extension did not load from here. Southern advice on this page comes from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.
Questions
- How deep do you plant daylilies?
- With the crown, where the shoots and roots meet, about 1 inch below the soil surface. Minnesota and Iowa State say about 1 inch, Clemson no deeper than 1 inch, and NC State covers the tubers with 1 inch of soil.
- When should you divide daylilies?
- Minnesota divides in early spring or immediately after flowering, Iowa State in early spring or late summer, and Missouri prefers late August through September. In Georgia’s zone 8 the UGA Extension Fulton County column says late summer or very early fall.
- How often do daylilies need dividing?
- Minnesota says every three to five years and the Fulton County column after four or five. Illinois divides reblooming types every 2 to 3 years. Clemson says division is not essential but can revitalize a crowded clump.
- Should you cut back daylilies in the fall?
- Clemson removes dead foliage as the plants die back in the fall and cuts finished scapes close to the ground. Minnesota clears the previous year’s dead leaves in early spring before growth starts.
- Are daylilies deer resistant?
- No. NC State says daylilies are frequently damaged by deer, and the UGA Extension Fulton County column says they are not deer resistant.
Sources
Freeze dates on this page are NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, for every station the ZIP codes in each zone cite. Zones are the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. The type table is a judgement, as labelled above. Growing advice is quoted from the extension publications below, each written for its own area.
- University of Minnesota Extension, Growing daylilies , by Mary H. Meyer, Julie Weisenhorn, Norman Baker and Julius Wadekamper . Written for: Minnesota (USDA zones 3a–5a).
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, When can I divide daylilies? (Updated June 20, 2025). Written for: Iowa (USDA zones 4b–6a).
- University of Illinois Extension, Daylily . Written for: Illinois (USDA zones 5a–7a).
- University of Missouri Extension, Daylily: Big color without the fuss . Written for: Missouri (USDA zones 5b–8a).
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center, Daylily (HGIC 1163) , by Karen Russ and Robert F. Polomski . Written for: South Carolina (USDA zones 8a–9b).
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Hemerocallis (daylily) . Written for: North Carolina (USDA zones 6b–9a).
- UGA Extension, Fulton County, Darling Daylilies Provide More Than ‘Beauty for a Day’ , by Viki Breeland, Fulton County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer . Written for: Fulton County, Georgia (USDA zones 8a–8b).
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Daylilies . Written for: Florida (USDA zones 8b–11b).
Published October 26, 2026
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