Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are popular, hardy perennial plants prized for their toughness, ability to thrive in various conditions, and impressive, trumpet-shaped blooms. Gardeners often assume that because daylilies are visually appealing, they are equally beneficial for local insect populations. Determining if a daylily is truly an asset to a pollinator garden requires a closer look at its specific biology and the effects of intensive breeding.
Understanding the Daylily Bloom Cycle
The name Hemerocallis translates from Greek as “beauty for a day,” revealing the plant’s fundamental limitation as a consistent food source. Each individual flower opens in the morning and withers by the following evening, severely restricting the window of opportunity for foraging insects. This ephemeral nature means a single bloom offers only a minimal, one-time reward.
While a plant clump produces numerous flower stalks with many buds, the reward is sequential rather than sustained. Unlike long-blooming perennials that offer consistent pollen and nectar, the short lifespan of the daylily flower makes it an unreliable source of daily nutrition for pollinators.
The Impact of Cultivar Breeding on Pollen and Nectar
The primary reason modern daylilies are often poor pollinator plants stems from decades of human-driven hybridization focused on aesthetic traits. With over 80,000 registered cultivars, breeders have prioritized unique colors, extended bloom times, and complex flower forms. This focus has inadvertently diminished the features that attract and sustain pollinators.
The development of “double” flower forms, which feature extra layers of petals, physically obstructs access to the plant’s reproductive parts. These extra petals crowd the center of the flower, making it difficult or impossible for bees and other insects to reach the anthers, where pollen is held, and the nectaries.
Furthermore, many modern hybrids are functionally sterile or produce non-viable pollen, a common trade-off when breeding for exaggerated petal size and color. Breeding efforts have often selected against high nectar sugar content, leading to a reduction in the overall reward offered.
While wild species like Hemerocallis fulva are known to be visited by swallowtail butterflies, the highly modified genetics of many popular cultivars can result in a flower that is little more than a visual spectacle with minimal nutritional value. The pollen that is produced is sometimes a poor source of protein for developing bee larvae, making the plant a low-value investment for a foraging insect.
Comparing Daylilies to High-Value Pollinator Plants
For gardeners seeking to maximize support for local ecosystems, replacing daylilies with species that offer a sustained and accessible reward is practical. High-value pollinator plants provide a reliable source of nectar and protein-rich pollen over an extended period. These alternatives often feature open, simple flower structures that allow easy access to their reproductive organs.
Excellent perennial alternatives offer a sustained food source throughout the summer:
- Coneflowers (Echinacea)
- Bee balm (Monarda)
- Salvias
- Blazing star (Liatris)
- Native milkweed (Asclepias)
Plants like blazing star and native milkweed are superior because they provide nectar for adult insects and serve as host plants for butterfly larvae. By choosing plants with simpler flower forms and a longer bloom duration, gardeners ensure their flower beds are functional habitats.