If it were slugs or snails I would think the edges of the leaves would be damaged(chewed) or just holes and not just showing a split down the middle.
Cutworms I'm not sure about but wouldn't they show the same damage as slugs and snails?

Hope you find out what is happening to them. I've never heard of leaves splitting on daylilies but there is always something new to learn.

Julia

probably spring sickness. you can google for pics

I was thinking spring sickness as well. They usually recover from it.

Kim

Thanks for the replies. I've googled but hadn't found any pictures showing what I have.

I had to cut the leaves off - was that okay? My husband thought maybe the hailstones had something to do with the splitting - we did have a storm last week with lots of hailstones - never had that before!

I will put slug bait down anyway - but mostly it's the splitting of the leaves right down the middle that baffles me.

Carrie

Didn't I read on here a couple years ago that high wind would do that??? Anyone else remember or am I just dreaming this?

I was going to say hail. We had some hail and it ripped up some of my hosta and lilies. Well it really ripped through lots of plants that had already put out leaves and bent over some of the canes on some plants. The weather man said tonight to expect tennis ball size hail tomorrow night so I hope he is WRONG!! Grrr.... Judy

Hail will definitely shred leaves, so that well may be it. I have a couple of daylilies that have exhibited what I call spring sickness for years. Some of the new leaves emerge crinkled or misshapen, or seem to be dwarfed and unable to grow at all. Eventually this straightens itself out with no help from me. Between those two choices I'd go with hail damage as your problem.

slug bait, netting, laundry baskets over plants (in case of hail), beer dishes .... a gardener's work is never done..but oh, so worth it

Thanks for all the replies

Carrie :0)

I have the same problem after a wind storm. I just cut the ripped leaves off and new ones come up. Marg