Tips for Nurturing and Cultivating Your Own Stella d’Oro Daylilies

This article covers everything you need to know about the Stella d’Oro daylily. This particular hybrid daylily has all the traditional features of other daylilies, but with a longer blooming period from early May until September or October. It also has a robust growth habit and requires very little maintenance, making it the most popular cultivar in its genus. The plant produces golden-yellow flowers with strap-like foliage and is often seen planted en masse around commercial buildings, leading to an overused reputation. However, when used selectively, Stella d’Oro can still be a valuable addition to any garden design. It is a herbaceous perennial that grows up to 9-12 inches tall and 10-12 inches wide, prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil with an acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH. Stella d’Oro is hardy in USDA zones 3-10 and is a cultivar with no native range. This article explores topics such as care, types, pruning, propagating, growing from seeds, growing in pots, overwintering, common pests and diseases, bloom, common issues, and frequently asked questions.

Autumn Wood image provided by The Spruce.

Taking care of Stella d’Oro daylilies is relatively easy as they can grow in most sunny locations, including rocky and salty soils. However, avoid planting them in areas that are consistently wet. These flowers thrive best in medium-moisture, humusy, and well-drained soil. The ideal planting time is during spring or fall, though they are sturdy enough to survive almost any planting season.

Stella d’Oro requires full sun, but in southern climates, a bit of shade in the afternoon is appreciated. Humusy and well-drained soil is ideal, but these daylilies can survive in dry and rocky soil. They accept a wide range of soil pH levels, from acidic to alkaline (6.0 to 8.0).

Ideally, Stella d’Oro needs one inch of water per week, and it’s best to water them via ground-level soaking instead of overhead sprinkling. These plants can grow in all climate conditions through their hardiness range, USDA cold hardiness zones 3 to 10.

Stella d’Oro doesn’t require much feeding, but a thick layer of organic mulch applied each spring can be beneficial. When flowering is weak, slow-release granular fertilizer in the spring and immediately after the first major flowering period is recommended. Deadheading spent flowers will ensure continuous bloom.

Propagation of Stella d’Oro daylilies is easy as they remain compact until they need dividing to rejuvenate them. Division can be done by using a spade to lift the entire clump out of the ground, then cutting apart the daylily clump with a clean sharp garden knife.

Stella d’Oro daylilies can be grown in containers, and when they have outgrown their container, they can be divided and replanted in new containers with fresh potting soil. In the garden, these flowers don’t need winter protection as they are hardy to USDA cold hardiness zone 3.

Stella d’Oro daylilies are relatively pest and disease-free, but mites, aphids, thrips, and fungal rust disease can be a problem. Yellow and brown foliage can be caused by daylily leaf streak, which can spread quickly in warm, wet weather.

Overall, Stella d’Oro daylilies are versatile flowers that can be used for various purposes such as mass ground cover, edging plant, or as a specimen plant in mixed perennial gardens. They are not invasive and are not native flowers.