Daylily – Planting Seed

Q: Last week, while removing some of the flower stems that had dried up on my daylilies, I noticed that in the globe-shaped thing at the top of the stem, where the flower had been, were a number of small, black objects that look like seeds. Are they? If they are seeds, any tips on propagation?

A: Here are some notes from the American Daylily Society:

When the seed pod splits at the tip, collect the seeds within the next few days or they will fall out. Dry your seeds out of the sun in a cool, dry place. Inside an air-conditioned house is good. There are several different methods for drying and storing. The easiest way for a beginner is to dry the seeds until they are completely dry and shriveled (couple of weeks at room temperature). Then store them in paper envelopes in plastic boxes kept as cool and dry as possible. These dried seeds can either be sown directly in the garden in late fall or in the spring.

The seeds can be sown directly into a prepared bed. Or they can be planted into pots and then transferred to beds after the seedlings appear (which may be a month to several depending upon the cultivar). Southern gardeners can expect bloom in 9 months to a year for some seedlings if they are given good care, even if you direct-seed them outside.