Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' (Day Lily) — Clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes

Overview

Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' is a clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes perennial in the genus Hemerocallis, part of the Asphodelaceae family, with deciduous or semi-evergreen; arching, strap-shaped, fresh green foliage. Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' grows best in full sun to partial shade; darker colours hold better out of hot sun, and tolerates almost any reasonable soil and from loam to clay soils and acid and neutral or alkaline pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6-H7. Suggested uses include borders, mass planting, containers, cottage gardens and cut flowers.

About

Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' is a clump-forming perennial with arching, strap-shaped foliage and upright flower scapes. The leaves are deciduous or semi-evergreen and fresh green in tone, and it flowers from June to August. It tolerates a wide range of soils and exposures, and darker flower colours hold better out of hot sun. Use it in borders, mass plantings or containers and as a cut flower.

About the genus

A daylily, day lily or ditch-lily is a flowering plant in the genus Hemerocallis, a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Asia. Despite the common name, it is not taxonomically classified in the lily genus. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long bred Hemerocallis species for their attractive flowers; a select few species of the genus have edible petals, while some are extremely toxic.

Wikipedia contributors, "Daylily", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Daylily

In the garden

A perennial in the genus Hemerocallis (family Asphodelaceae), Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' makes fountain-like clumps of arching, strap-shaped leaves with upright scapes that carry the summer blooms from June to August. The foliage may be deciduous or semi-evergreen and is fresh green; the upright scapes provide the season’s principal floral display. Plant it in full sun to partial shade — note that darker colours hold better out of very hot sun — and accept almost any reasonable soil, from loam to clay. Soil pH is not critical; plants do best in moist but well drained conditions yet will tolerate periods of damp or dry once established. It will tolerate exposed or sheltered sites and translates to UK hardiness bands H6–H7 (very hardy to fully hardy), so it suits most gardens. Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' works well in mixed borders, large drifts or mass plantings, and it also performs in containers or cottage-style beds; stems are suitable for cutting. Position the clump so its arching leaves form a low fountain beneath the scapes, allowing the flower stems to stand clearly above lower companions during the June–August flowering period.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Hemerocallis

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade; darker colours hold better out of hot sun
Soil type: Almost any reasonable soil, from loam to clay
Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline
Soil moisture: Moist but well drained; tolerates both damp and dry once established
Aspect: Any
Exposure: Exposed or sheltered
UK hardiness: H6-H7

Plant details

Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Perennial
Habit: Clump-forming, arching foliage with upright scapes
Foliage: Deciduous or semi-evergreen; arching, strap-shaped, fresh green
Suggested uses: Borders, mass planting, containers, cottage gardens, cut flowers

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold'

Cultivation: Among the most forgiving of perennials, and effectively unkillable once settled. They flower most freely in an open position with reasonable moisture while the buds are forming, and benefit from division every four or five years, since a congested clump produces plenty of leaf and progressively fewer scapes.
Pruning: Snap off spent blooms to keep the display clean, and cut scapes to the base once all buds have finished. Remove dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.
Propagation: Divide in early spring or immediately after flowering, splitting the crown into fans each with roots attached. Proliferations that form on the scapes of some cultivars can be rooted as cuttings.
Pest resistance: Slugs and snails graze new spring growth, and hemerocallis gall midge distorts buds in early summer - affected buds are best picked off and destroyed.
Disease resistance: Robust. Daylily rust is the main disease of note but remains uncommon in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

How do I grow Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold'?

Among the most forgiving of perennials, and effectively unkillable once settled. They flower most freely in an open position with reasonable moisture while the buds are forming, and benefit from division every four or five years, since a congested clump produces plenty of leaf and progressively fewer scapes.

Where is the best place to plant Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold'?

Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' prefers full sun to partial shade; darker colours hold better out of hot sun. It suits exposed or sheltered positions.

What soil does Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' need?

Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' grows best in almost any reasonable soil and from loam to clay soil. It prefers acid and neutral or alkaline soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well drained; tolerates both damp and dry once established.

How do I prune Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold'?

Snap off spent blooms to keep the display clean, and cut scapes to the base once all buds have finished. Remove dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.

Is Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' hardy in the UK?

Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold' has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.

How do I propagate Hemerocallis 'Spanish Gold'?

Divide in early spring or immediately after flowering, splitting the crown into fans each with roots attached. Proliferations that form on the scapes of some cultivars can be rooted as cuttings.

More in the Hemerocallis genus

Browse all Hemerocallis →