ann, it's a native daylily. most people snub their noses at them. they do serve their purpose, that's for sure.

a lot of nurseries sell them and i've also seen them at the orange and the blue stores as well.

they spread quickly and are excellent in problem spots. i could set some aside for you come the proper time to dig, if you are interested. just let me know.

maryanne

The most common orange lily-type flower is the orange daylily - Hemerocallis fulva - which is native to asia but grows semi-wild all over PA. I don't think they actually grow from seed in the wild here, but they sprout from pieces of roots, thrown away plants from gardens, etc., and survive for years, which is why you see them all over. They are very easy to grow and I wouldn't hesitate to simply pull or dig a few from a roadside patch if you want the wild variety for your yard. There are also hundreds of cultivated varieties of the same plant, plus perhaps another species that is used to create hybrids for the garden. Daylilies now come in many different colors, sizes, etc. There are whole nurseries dedicated to daylilies, and they can be bought anywhere, or easily had for the asking from most gardeners who grow them. All daylilies spread rather rapidly, so anyone who has one probably has lots to give away.

There are a few true lilies that are somewhat common in gardens. Tiger lilies are an asian plant that you see often in gardens. The orange, spotted flowers hang down from a tall upright stem, unlike daylily blooms that usually face upward or outward. There are also several native lily species that can be fairly common in some places. I grow the native Turk's Cap Lily - Lilium superbum - and it is a great plant, but unfortunately it does not spread nearly as fast as a daylily.

Orange daylily is indeed the one I'm talking about. I had no idea it had such a simple name. Thanks!