Are you looking for information about white daylily? What types of white daylily are there? Read this article to know the Hemerocallis White Varieties that have the most beautiful flowers and the closest white color.
White daylily bulbs are the best way to grow these elegant and fragrant perennials that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They are not true bulbs but rhizomes that store food and water for the plants.
They can be planted in early spring or early fall, about three feet apart, in a sunny or partially shaded spot with moist but well-drained soil.
Some of the varieties of white daylilies are ‘Joan Senior’, ‘Gentle Shepherd’, ‘White Temptation’, ‘Dad’s Best White’ and ‘Vanilla Stella’.
In China, the daylily is associated with forgetfulness and loss of memory, or in some situations, they symbolize “forgetting worries.” They are often gifted when someone is having a little bit of a rough patch so that they can overcome and move on.
Daylilies have a relatively short blooming period, 1 to 5 weeks, and depending on their variety and your area, they may bloom from early spring until frost.
Extra Early: These daylilies are the first to bloom, from March or April in the South to May or June in the North.
Mike Huben is a Daylilies breeder who lives in cool coastal 6 in New England. His near-white Daylilies seem to surpass Stella De Oro in performance. This is considered a White Daylily variety.
Mike Huben has introduced three varieties of near-white Daylilies that are able to thrive continuously. That is:
- Snowy Stella (Huben 07) 24” E Re 3.25”, NearWhite Self, Dor Dip
- Vanilla Stella (Huben 09) 18 “E Re 3”, NearWhite Self, Dor Dip
- White And Nerdy (Huben 12) 28” EM Re 4.5”, Near White Self, Dor Dip
You can see all the Daylilies that Mike has bred and featured here
Huben is currently still in the process of evaluating the Encore d’Ivoire (Wetzel 08) 19” EE Re 3.75”, Ivory Self, Dor Dip Ext
Of these, the plant that most closely resembles Stella De Oro in botanical habit is Vanilla Stella (Huben 09). The largest and whitest are White And Nerdy (Huben 12).
Huben says there is currently a Daylily variety being sold under the name Precious d’Oro, although it’s not yet registered. Precious d’Oro is sold as near-white, but it’s not nearly as white as any other.
Precious d’Oro has yet to grow back in Mike Huben’s garden. Currently, Precious d’Oro is one of the most beautiful white daylily varieties, so sellers have pushed the price of this variety too high.
Table of Contents
Is there any white daylily?
Yes, there are many white daylilies. Some popular varieties include:
- Dad’s Best White: This daylily has pure white ruffled petals with a yellow-green throat. It is a vigorous grower and blooms for a long period of time.
- Vanilla Stella: This daylily is similar to Stella de Oro, but it has white petals instead of yellow. It is also a vigorous grower and blooms for a long period of time.
- White And Nerdy: This daylily has large, white petals with a light green throat. It is a reblooming variety, meaning it will bloom multiple times throughout the season.
- Precious d’Oro: This daylily is a near-white variety with yellow-green petals. It is a compact grower and blooms for a long period of time.
White daylilies are a beautiful addition to any garden. They are easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of conditions. They are also a popular choice for cut flowers.
Fact:
After I planted a handful of species that florists call white daylily, but in reality, none of them are actually white. In the daylily world, they are called ‘near white’, which means they have a base color of cream, yellow, or peach/peach pink.
In fact, there is a variety of daylilies that is very close in color to white called Gentle Shepherd. This is the whitest daylily yet developed.
White daylily varieties
Daylily colors range from almost white to a deeply saturated satin red-purple. Golds and yellow daylilies are the predominant colors in the species and are originally hybrids.
These premium daylilies white varieties have been selected as highly performing plants with exceptional bloom performance, vibrantly colored flowers, complete winter hardiness, and a vigorous habit.
Here are the names of some types of Daylilies with the closest white color. Please note that there are currently no varieties of Daylily with a completely white color. The white Daylily varieties introduced below are the closest to white color.
Dad’s Best White
Dad’s Best White is a variety of daylily that has near-white large flowers with green throats and sword-like leaves. It is a dormant diploid daylily that blooms in midseason and grows up to 28 inches tall and 6 inches wide.
It is hardy in zones 3 to 9 and prefers full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is a popular white-flowering daylily that was hybridized by Viette in 1984 and won multiple awards.
To grow and care for Dad’s Best White daylily, you need to follow these steps:
- Plant the roots in early spring or early fall, about three feet apart, in a sunny or partially shaded spot with moist but well-drained soil.
- Amend the soil with compost if it is poor or heavy clay.
- Water the plants regularly, especially in spring and early summer, to ensure good flowering.
- Cut back the flower stems after they finish blooming to improve the appearance and prevent seed formation.
- Remove any dead or diseased foliage as needed.
- Divide the plants every few years in early spring or early fall to keep them vigorous and healthy.
- Protect the plants from pests such as aphids, slugs, snails, hemerocallis gall midge and thrips, and diseases such as fungal leaf spots, rust, and bacterial rot.
By following these steps, you can enjoy the beautiful near-white flowers of Dad’s Best White daylily for many years.
Vanilla Stella
Vanilla Stella is a variety of daylily that has near-white to cream flowers with large green throats and sword-like leaves. It is a dormant diploid daylily that blooms early and reblooms throughout the season and grows up to 18 inches tall and 3 inches wide.
It is hardy in zones 3 to 10 and prefers full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is a fragrant daylily that was hybridized by Huben in 2009 and is a child of ‘Stella d’Oro’. I hope this helps you learn more about Vanilla Stella Daylily.
White And Nerdy
White And Nerdy is a daylily that has large, white petals with a light green throat. It is a reblooming variety, meaning it will bloom multiple times throughout the season. It is also a fragrant daylily that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
It is hardy in zones 3 to 10 and prefers full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is a hybrid of ‘Stella d’Oro’ and another unknown daylily.
It was named after the song by “Weird Al” Yankovic that parodies the song “Ridin'” by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone
Precious d’Oro
Precious d’Oro is a daylily that has large, fragrant, white trumpet flowers that curl back and feature a green-yellow throat. It is a reblooming variety that blooms from mid to late summer.
It forms a dense clump of grassy green foliage and grows up to 20 inches tall and wide. It is hardy and easy to grow in zones 3 to 9 and prefers full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil.
It is drought-tolerant, rabbit resistant, and edible. It is ideal for mass planting, borders, containers, or specimens. It is a hybrid of ‘Stella d’Oro’ and another unknown daylily. It was introduced by Darrel Apps in 2005 and has won several awards.
Hemerocallis Gentle Shepherd
- Common Name: Daylily
- Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Family: Asphodelaceae
- Zone: 3 to 9
- Height: 2.00 to 2.50 feet
- Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: White with yellow-green throat
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
- Water: Medium
- Maintenance: Low
- Flower: Showy
- Tolerate: Rabbit, Erosion, Air Pollution
- Garden locations
Gentle Shepherd is a diploid cultivar, which is known for being among the most beautiful white-flowering daylilies. Gentle Shepherd is considered the whitest daylily. It has 5.5 inches of pure white flowers with yellow-green throats. The flowers are borne on naked stems (scapes), which can reach 30 inches above a clump with dark-green, arching, blade-like leaves.
Each flower opens for one day. Blooms from early to mid-season. May rebloom. The Gentle Shepherd is an AHS Award-winning Daylily breed. Gentle Shepherd is chalky white with a large throat. Arguably the whitest daylily has not yet been developed.
Sunday Gloves Daylily
- Height: 27.0 Inches
- Spread: 18.0-24.0 Inches
- Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
- Flower Color: White Shades / Near White
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Sunlight: Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun), Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
- Water Requirements: Low Water Needs, Average Water Needs
- Soil Quality: Poor Soil Quality, Average Soil Quality, Fertile Soil Quality
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0), Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0), Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
- Bloomtime: Midsummer, Rebloomer
- Attracts Wings: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Bee Friendly
- Critter Resistant: Rabbit Resistant
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Garden Style: Patio Container, Eclectic
- Other Features: Border Plant, Container, Easy To Grow, Fragrant Flowers, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant
- Origin: Not Native to North America
Sunday Gloves Daylily is a fragrant Daylily that blooms near white. It has ruffled edges, soft yellow centers, and very fragrant flowers. Sunday Gloves Daylily’s near-white blossoms have a very fragrant scent.
They have loosely ruffled petals, pale yellow eyes, and a tiny celery green throat. Superior flower form and foliage. Easy to grow
The delicate, ruffled petals are ivory-white with a lime-green throat. Sunday Gloves bloom almost all summer and will bring elegance to any garden that has superior foliage and a vigorous growth pattern. Daylilies are a wonderful, easy-to-grow perennial.
They can be hardy and form beautiful clumps with strappy green leaves. Most cultivars’ flowers last only for one day, which gives the plant its informal name. You can be assured that each stalk will have a new flower the next morning.
Plant in well-drained containers, along walkways, in perennial beds and borders, or in well-drained containers.
Joan Senior Daylily
Joan Senior Daylily aka Hemerocallis ‘Joan Senior’ – is a type of Reblooming Daylily.
Hemerocallis “Joan Senior”, one of the most loved near whites, is an elegant mid-season Daylily that produces a large number of creamy white flowers. It measures 6 inches in height.
Joan Senior Daylily’s flowers are 15 cm in diameter and have softly ruffled recurved leaves. Each flower can last at most 16 hours (extended flowers), but not more than 24 hours (hence the common name “Daylily”).
The petals open in the morning and then wither during the night. A new one may be placed on the same scape (flower stalk) the next day. This evergreen diploid Daylily has won multiple awards.
- This Daylily is often referred to as the “perfect perennial” because of its many qualities, including showy flowers, drought tolerance, heat stress immunity, and the ability to grow in all hardiness zones.
- This clump-forming perennial blooms from early to middle summer and can grow up to 25 inches. The plant is 62 cm tall and spreads slowly by rhizomes to 18-24 inches. (45-60 cm). Mixing this Daylily with other varieties will prolong the blooms of their beautiful color in your garden. Hemerocallis is a Eurasian native, and there are over 60,000 registered cultivars. So you have plenty to choose from!
- It is a great choice for shrub borders and perennial gardens or groundcovers on slopes or within containers close to the patio.
- This Daylily thrives in full sun to part sun, in average, moist soils that are well-drained. It is virtually pest-free. It can be grown in many soil types, but fertile Loam is the best. It can tolerate heat or summer humidity, but it needs to be well watered to keep its leaves looking good!
- Daylilies attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Daylilies are best planted in the early autumn or late spring.
- To improve the appearance and encourage rebloom, take out any seedpods or spent blooms after flowering. Once all flowers have been removed from a scape, trim them to the ground. Daylilies will die in the fall, so remove any dead leaves.
- It was bred by Edwin C. Brown, in 1986. It won multiple awards, including the Honorable Mention (1981) and the Award of Merit (1984).
Daylily Great White
- Hybridizer: Stamile
- Year of Registration or Introduction: 1996
- Foliage Type: Evergreen
- Scape height: 28 inches
- Bloom size: 6.25 inches
- Bloom time: Early midseason
- Plant Traits: Extended Bloom, Rebloom, Early Morning Opener (EMO)
- Rust Resistance: Shows Susceptibility
- Rust Resistance Decimal Score: 3.8
- Fertility: Pod Fertile, Pollen Fertile
- Bloom Traits: Self
- Bloom Form: Single
- Color Description: Ivory cream self with green throat
- AHS Awards: Honorable Mention: 2003
- Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
- Flowers: Showy, Fragrant
- Propagation: Seeds: Will did not come true from seed
- Propagation: Other methods: Division
- Ploidy: Tetraploid
- Parentage: Glacier Bay x Whisper White
- Child plants: 131 child plants
Daylily Great White- Ivory white flowers that are large, full, broad, and flat. The edges are deeply ruffled, and the gold is gathered around them. The scapes can reach 35 buds with well-branched branches. Branching in 5-6 ways without crowding.
Extended Bloom. Rebloomer. Early Morning Opener. Early/mid-season ivory cream self with green throat flowers. The perennial is clump-forming and produces spikes of flowers that last no more than 24 hours. The 3 petals and sepals of the flowers are surrounded by a midrib, which can be of the same color or of a different color.
Cool It Reblooming Daylily
- Botanical Name: Hemerocallis ‘Cool It’
- Form: Perennial
- Hardiness: Zone 3-9
- Flowering Time: Midseason and again in late summer to early fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Flower Color: White flowers with green throats
- Flower Form: 6″ single, trumpet-shaped flower with ruffled edges
- Foliage Type: Semi-evergreen grass-like foliage
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Height/Habit: 26 – 30 inches
- Spread: 24 – 30 inches
- Planting Instructions: The top of the plant should be even with soil level and 24-30″ apart
- Soil Requirements: Well-drained
- Will Tolerate: Acidic Soil, Clay Soil, Loamy Soil, Sandy Soil
- Pruning: Cut back spent flower stems after flowering.
Cool It Reblooming Daylily with scientific name is Hemerocallis ‘Cool It’.
This beauty can be found wherever you want it to be. Cool It is a beautiful creamy white variety that bears fragrant flowers with ruffled edges in midsummer and bright green throats later in the year. It is perfect for adding style to containers or giving sunrooms a lift. It is reusable every year. Butterflies love it, too! Drought-tolerant plants. Hemerocallis
Cool It Daylily has a creamy white color with ruffled edges and green throats. It also emits a delightful aroma that is great for containers and borders!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any white daylilies?
No, there are currently no varieties of daylily that are white. Daylily colors can range from orange to yellow and almost white. The whitest daylily is currently Gentle Shepherd
What are those white flowers called?
Galanthus- Also called snowdrops, these flowers look like three droplets of white falling from a stem. Because they are only available in one color, snowdrops are very unique. The sweet honey scent of their creamy white petals is evident. The symbol of purity and home are the snowdrops
