Granted I realize the specific cultivar has some role, as do proper conditions but my own experience dividing established clumps into 2-3 fan divisions generally ended up with nice showy flowers at around three seasons.

From a financial standpoint, as well as a hybridizers/growers standpoint, I can see the benefit of 2 fan divisions. The reason I ask though is one of the vendor's sites I hit recently sung the praises of 2 fan divisions so high the average joe might be inclined to divide every year...Even my local nursery sends me "out back" to the landscape stock knowing that I'm willing to pay a little more for "instant gratification" plants (the only downside is variety is limited to what they haven't used themselves and somewhat hum-drum cultivars compared to what's actually available).

For the most part the daylilies I'm considering don't need to provide instant gratification, I can wait them out as I simply admire them and those that please me most will eventually gain a prominant place in my landscape. I'll be adding new beds this year and as I don't want them all to contain naked daylilies I'm considering going with 4 and maybe 6 fans of the less expensive varieties I'm interested in (for just a little more visual appeal a little bit faster).

Sorry if the question is a little redundant, I'm guessing 3 seasons is a likely solid guess for a really good show. Just curious. Thoughts, opinions, experiences most welcome!

~Wes

I live in the great white North, outside Buffalo, NY. It's really white right now.

When I get plants from the far southern states delivered to me as these huge fans in May, it generally takes a year for them to bloom, and a couple of years to settle in. The first year they need to reduce in size to normal Northern fan size, and then they can bloom.

Plants I get early in the spring from my same general type of climate, can flower the first year, but I never expect the bloom to look it's best the first year. But it should the second, and yes, I'll hold out for a third year.

But you are correct that there are some cultivars that can take longer ... or some need a different spot. I have 2 daylilies that I have noted that I need to move to my back gardens, which have a little shade during the day ... my front gardens are in full sun.

I've had a couple of daylilies that have suprised me years after being in my garden ... I had to look twice to see what it was since it finally looked really good.

So, to answer your question, I would think that 3 years would be a good guess.

First for me, I've found that I haven't had great success with fall plantings. It could be just me but they never seem to do anything the following spring/summer.

I aim for spring plantings. I often don't get any flowers on those plants as they've suffered trama from dividing, shipping, etc. Some will sulk, others will grow nicely.

second spring/summer usually involves some flowering and maybe increase.

third is usually better as the plants have settled in and have increased so they have a nice display.

I guess it is like someone told me years ago with perennials: first year they sleep, second year they creep and third year they leap.

I'll be quite interested to see what this spring/summer brings to my garden as last year we had some of the rainest months in decades during the spring/summer so I'll be interested to see how the plants react this year.

The other thing with 2 fan divisions. Are the 2 fans that are attached or 2 individual fans?

I hit a few nurseries both early and late in the season trying to pick up deals on old stock but those usually end up in someone else's landscape. (slowly acquiring a "perennial junkyard" behind the garage though...)Luckily I do have a small daylily farm of sorts nearby, great folks, they've hooked me up with some dandies! Not to mention another nearby farm that 'Timberohio' recommended that I've yet to visit (I will get there this summer!)

That said though, some of the pictures posted here over the past few years have driven me to find some new varieties by mail. Small starts or not! Not quite up to the 1-2 year old intros just yet, still a bargain hunter but there are some really nice cultivars I just won't find locally.

~Wes

I don't think I can post the names/links here without the post getting deleted.

So far, I've only seen issues with double/2 fan divisions on particular cultivars and not really an issue with where I got it from.

I've nearly maxxed out on several 'standard 2 fan' divisions from a few vendors. Curious to see what I receive and how they do. Three post-2000 intros lined up, more patience with them as they cost a tad more, hottest of the lot was down to $15 and I have higher hopes for it than the one that went $100 even.

Fingers crossed, LOL.

~Wes

Julie

Sandi Jacques has maintained a 'Recommended Source List' for several years. Taken largely from Daylily Forums like this one. I'll link her site below.
Ed

~Wes