Daylily, Hemerocallis spp., is a flowering perennial in the Asphodelaceae family that brightens summer gardens in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.
It sprouts from a rhizome and has bare, slender stems – or scapes – that rise from clumps of foliage that resemble large blades of grass.
Each bears an abundance of blossoms that appear intermittently throughout the summer, and each bloom lasts just one day.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
In our guide to growing daylilies, we discussed all you need to know to cultivate and care for this showy ornamental in your summer garden.
In this article, we talk about recognizing, managing, and preventing daylily rust, a condition that may present itself when growing conditions are less than ideal.
Here’s what’s in store:
Let’s get started.
What Is Daylily Rust?Rust is a fungal disease that spreads mostly by air and water via microscopic spores.
There are 168 genera of parasitic fungi that can cause rust. Over half of these belong to the Puccinia genus, and each species has a favorite host plant.
For example, the pathogen that spreads canna rust is P. thaliae.
In the case of the daylily, the rust-spreading parasite is P. hemerocallidis.
Rust gains a foothold when favorable weather conditions – prolonged damp conditions and high relative humidity – and gardening practices (or a lack thereof) come together to create a sort of perfect storm.
Ideal Growing ConditionsHemerocallis thrives in a full sun to part shade location.
It prefers organically-rich loam, but will tolerate average to poor quality soil, provided it has a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and drains well.
Pl
Read more on gardenerspath.com