Big Woods Daylily Farm

Ruffles and fragrance and flowers - Oh my! Big Woods Daylily Farm strives to have the newest daylilies born from a long line of amazing plant parents. We trade pollen, plants and seeds with growers from around the world to ensure the newest and the best blooms for you. The process from seed to flower takes 3-5 years, so we have learned to be patient!

How do we do it? The season starts in February, when the seeds are planted and grown first on windowsills, then moved to the greenhouse in April. Once the plants have 3 true leaves, they are transplanted by hand out in the fields. The young plants are watered and lightly mulched in, receiving daily inspections from the staff. These young plants will not bloom for 3 years, so patience is key! 

The older, more mature plants will start to bloom in July. Every morning, after the dew has worn off, we roam the rows of daylilies and look for flowers that have strong or unique attributes: strong stalks, multiple branches, unique color patterns, delightful fragrance, etc. The pollen is collected by hand from the best blooms, and then the hunt is on for a plant to mate it with! All flowers are hand-pollinated and tagged with identifying markers. Seed pods will begin to quickly form, and by September, shiny pea-sized black seeds are ready to be harvested. Seeds are dried, placed in labeled bags, and stored in climate and humidity-controlled chillers.  

The seeds are routinely checked, one by one, for signs of mold and rot during the winter.  In February, the process begins again!