Daylily vs Asiatic lily
Not related, though both are called lilies. A daylily makes a clump of strap-shaped leaves and each flower lasts a single day, with more to follow for weeks. A true lily grows from a bulb, as a single stem with leaves all the way up and the flowers at the top. Both are deadly to cats: every part, even the pollen.
| Daylily Hemerocallis | Asiatic lily Lilium (Asiatic hybrids) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2½ ft tall, 24 in wide | 3 ft tall, 12 in wide |
| Plant | 24 in apart | 12 in apart |
| Zones | 3 to 9 | 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part sun | Full sun to part sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Well-drained, rich fertility |
| Flowers | Late June to early August; orange, yellow, red | Late June to mid July; orange, yellow, red, pink, white |
| Leaves | Medium, herbaceous | Medium, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Accent |
| Pets | Toxic (severe) | Toxic (severe) |
| Deer | No record | No record |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose daylily for warmer gardens (to zone 9) and a longer show (7 weeks of flower against 4).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they are recorded as partners. Beside daylily, Asiatic lily is in flower together for three weeks, from late June. They share full sun and part sun and zones 3 to 8.
Read more: all about daylily, and all about Asiatic lily, each with a bed the planner designed around it.