Planting Daylily Seeds

From https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep006

  1. Plant freshly harvested seed in flats or pots filled with commercial potting soil. Cover the seeds with finely sifted soil or vermiculite to a depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Keep the soil carefully watered and moist while seeds are germinating.
  2. Place the flats or pots in a shaded location and cover with glass or clear plastic to prevent the soil from drying out. Seeds of daylilies germinate in 10 days to 2 weeks and require no special treatment.
  3. When seedlings are 4-6 inches in height, transplant them into new flats or pots, spacing them 1 to 2 inches apart. Some prefer to leave the seedlings in flats until they are large enough to set out in the landscape.
  4. Daylilies usually take 2 years from seed to flowering. However, if seeds are harvested in May and immediately germinated and if seedlings are given good care, it is possible in Florida to have a seedling bloom by the following year.

Germination and planting from http://www.thsgardens.org/ths/growing/hybridize.html By Joe Agosta, Tallahassee, Florida.

  1. Use any good well draining planting medium designated as usable for seed starting. You can use seed trays with individual cells or just mass plant in one gallon or larger nursery pots. At this point, if you so choose, you may squeeze each seed before planting to remove those that are not firm and unlikely to germinate. If using nursery pots fill with wetted medium to within one inch of the top. Either way plant the seed about 1/2″ inch or less below the surface of the medium. This is not critical so don’t freak out about getting the exact depth, just try not to go deeper. Follow this with a thin layer of clean play sand or builders sand. The sand should be about ¼ inch deep as well. This layer keeps the surface from being hospitable to fungus and bacteria. Thoroughly water the plantings using a gentle spray to avoid washing the seeds out of position in the medium.
  2. Place the plantings in full sun to part shade being mindful that for the next 6 to 8 weeks you will need to be able to provide daily care which amounts to assuring that the planting medium does not dry out. Using the nursery pots gives you more leeway in this regard in that they will not dry out as readily. For the first few days monitor the moisture in the medium to give you an idea as to how often you will need to supply water. Generally the sand surface layer should stay moist at all times.
  3. After about 10 days you will begin to see little sprouts coming up through the sand. Not all seeds will germinate. Sixty percent success is typical. Some seeds may not germinate for up to a month or more. Some albino seedlings may appear, but they will die after they use up the food in the seed. This is normal. When the first seedlings have opened their second leaves you may start fertilizing every third day with a half-strength solution of Miracle Grow. Continue the watering and fertilizing until the seedlings are about 6 inches tall. The seedlings can then be transplanted into the garden or into larger pots providing at least a 4 to 6 inch space between individual seedlings.

How to Plant Daylily Seeds: Growing daylilies from seed is easy and can be sown directly in the ground in most climates. In moist soil with lots of incorporated organic matter, sow the seeds at a depth of ½ to ¾ of an inch (1.5-2 cm.). Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge, which should take 1 to 2 weeks. If starting the seeds indoors, don’t transplant them out until all chance of frost has passed in the spring. It may take 2 to 3 years for your new daylilies to produce flowers.

Read more at Gardening Know How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/daylily/daylily-seed-propagation.htm my favorite way of starting seeds is to use Perlite moistened with distilled water and peroxide in a baggy. I think I’m using about 20 oz. distilled water and a teaspoon of peroxide. There are lots of formulas online.


My favorite way of starting seeds is to use Perlite moistened with distilled water and peroxide in a baggy. I think I’m using about 20 oz. distilled water and a teaspoon of peroxide. Moisten the Perlite and drain off any excess. Add the seeds and set in a warm spot out of the direct sun. If you need to stratify, put the baggy in the fridge for 3 weeks prior to putting in a warm spot. Then check occasionally for any green showing. When there is green, I then plant in the ground and cover with Perlite to discourage fungus gnats. –  Pat Near McIntosh, Florida (Zone 9a)


How to start daylily seeds videos in four parts.

How to Grow Seeds the FAST and EASY Way, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTLK55-Fl80