EE — Extra Early

A bloom period indicator, EE defines daylilies that are the first to flower in the spring. This eager starter is followed by E (Early), EM (Early Midseason), M (Midseason), LM (Late Midseason), L (Late) and VL (Very Late) daylilies. Obviously, selecting a wide range of these time travelers can extend the pleasure of a daylily garden for months.

RE — Rebloom

Such daylilies have a fabulous first flush of flowers, and then do it again with a second or continuing show. For the best displays, they need a little help in the form of deadheading, additional fertilizer and regular waterings when the rains don’t come.

EV — Evergreen

These daylilies remain stubbornly in foliage through typical North Carolina winters. One step down, an SEV selection is semi-evergreen, meaning it might retain its leaves in a mild winter but probably won’t if temperatures turn abominably cold. And no matter what the winter is like, a DOR (Dormant) daylily will lose its foliage after the first autumn frosts. It is a good idea to mark the locations of SEV and DOR daylilies before the growing season winds down so they won’t be dug up during the planting frenzy to come the following spring.

FR — Fragrant

Some daylilies are sweetly scented in perfumed pleasures that can range from a slightest of slight lovely smells to obvious olfactory awakenings. Daylilies that are deemed to be intensely aromatic are occasionally tagged VFR — (Very Fragrant).

TET — Tetraploid

There are two types of daylilies, tetraploids and diploids (DIP), with tetraploids having twice the sets of chromosomes versus diploids. Without wading deep into DNA gobbledygook, TET cultivars tend to have larger flowers with brighter colors supported on stronger stems. This doesn’t mean diploids are visual wimps: among their ranks are some of the prettiest pinks, as well as many of the more popular spider and double-flowered daylilies.