Hallson Gardens

How would daylilies and daffodils work when planted in the same space? We recently moved to a property with about 20 large pecan, black walnut and chestnut trees that all have a ring of daylilies around them. These rings are 2-3' thick. These were planted many years ago (over 20 I'm sure, possibly 40). They are almost a major feature of the yard.

I've wondered if planting some daffodils (or perhaps something else - crocus and snowdrops are another options...or anything else) in the "dayliliy rings" would work well. I don't want to choke out the daylilies but, it would be nice to have a little extra spring color. This morning, my son brought up the same idea so I thought I'd see what others with more experience think about it.

Here's a picture of the yard in May.

DSC_20100502_080108 by jerryshenk, on Flickr

Here is a closer shot while the flowers are blooming. This was the second summer we were here and they were recovering from "rough weeding" to get rid of overgrowth of burn hazel and poison ivy (think vines visible on a few trees).

DSC_20110708_140956 by jerryshenk, on Flickr

Yeah, I'm sure more sun would help the daylilies....but those trees aren't coming down;) They are just huge trees. We love the "filtered shade" they provide...even though they limit the daylilies. Out by the river, there are a couple patches of daylilies that get pretty much solid sun. We're probably going to plant some on the river bank too...that's full sun till late afternoon.

Jerry, personally I wouldn't mix the two but you have a couple bare bottom trees that you could do the Daffs under?

The trees are all bare at the bottom....first branches are generally over 20' high. And, they are nut trees so they don't have a heavy shade canopy...more filtered sunlight.

So sorry for the confusion here, the top photo shows that some of the trees don't have daylilies around the base. That is the ones I'd put daffodils around and not mix them.
Beautiful grove of trees and nicely trimmed up, someone took great care of them as they were growing.

That's an interesting idea...that one black walnut tree without a "daylily ring" now has the start of one. I'm curious how long it will take to catch up to the others. We do have some serviceberry bushes, perhaps daffodils around those would be a good idea. Currently, we just mow as close as we can to it.

My wife and I have talked about how long it must have taken to plant all these daylilies. I would assume they planted 6-12 around each tree and then they just expanded from that over time. I really wish the original owner would stop by sometime...I have a few things I'd like to ask him.

One interesting thing...the 2nd year, we noticed that the flowers in the picture bloomed first and then ones on the other side of the driveway bloomed later. I thought that odd since they were identical...well, they're not... Actually, to look at the pictures they don't seem all that close but, that was before I knew there were a gazillion different types of daylilies;) I don't know exactly what they are called...I suppose I'll try to figure that out someday. I wonder if they even knew they planted different ones.

west side daylilies

DSC_20110628_131700_WestOfDrive-late by jerryshenk, on Flickr

east side daylilies

DSC_20110628_132054_EastOfDrive-late by jerryshenk, on Flickr

Jerry, I have three types of orange ones that they stated were the same but if you put the blooms side by side, you can tell they are different. The last photo of the old fashion one
seems to grow faster than the other ones. I know I can take a small piece of this and put it in a bucket and within a couple years it will fill the bucket!! I will tell you that the owners of our home took some great photos that they left with my folks when they bought the house some 25+ years ago. The daffodils they planted in the shade didn't bloom well. It wasn't
until the tree fell and these got full sun did the daffs really bloom.

Hi Jerry,

I mix the two, and find it is a perfect combination. The daffodil foliage does last a bit longer than might be ideal, but the daylily foliage soon covers it. One nursery used to offer this mix, with the addition of Oriental lilies for yet another season of bloom. I have little experience with that, as I've only added true Lilies to the garden last summer.

John

I have used oriental lilies mixed with daylilies for years, the fragrance while working around the daylily beds is a real treat. But how the oriental's would perform in shade I haven't a clue
Ed

Hi Ed, if there is sufficient sun for the daylilies to flower, shouldn't it be okay for the lilies as well?

Jerry, I am curious about the black walnut trees, having heard they secrete something that makes growing anything near then quite difficult. This is not a problem?

I too have heard that some things won't grow under black walnuts - daylilies don't seem to be one of those things;) They seem to grow quite well. Most of the trees have about a 3' wide band of lush laylilies. I really don't see much difference between the daylilies planted around the pecan, black walnut, chestnut or the ones planted out in the open.

Hi John
I would think the more sun the better for both, but from the pic's the daylilies look just great
I also was wondering about the Black Walnut trees, as I heard the same thing.
As for the Oriental lilies, give it a try, see what happens.
I'd like to know myself about the shade aspect as well as the Black Walnut affect
Ed

Thinking about the roots..
Daylillies have a heavy roosysteme, could give daff bulbs a hard time... crocus or other very early bulbs may be an idea.

Daylillies are great in some shade... thinking of martagon lilliies, they prefere some shade

I plant spring bulbs, Asiatic Lilies, and Oriental lilies with my daylilies. I liked the design because the daylily leaves cover the foilage of the bulbs and I always have blooms in the area.

I even go one step further. I plant zinna seeds around the daylilies so I have blooms into the fall coming up through the daylilies.

Daylilies and daffodils are not affected by juglone, the toxic substance produce by walnut trees. In fact I have many species of plants in my garden and all do well.Tomato plants are not suppose to do will with black walnut trees, but don't tell my tomato's this.