How to Grow Daylily Cherry Cheeks
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Daylily Cherry Cheeks
Hemerocallis 'Cherry Cheeks'
flowerCherry Cheeks is a stunning daylily cultivar featuring large, ruffled blooms with deep red or burgundy petals and a golden-yellow throat marked with red stippling. This herbaceous perennial produces flowers that bloom for a single day but flowers prolifically over many weeks. It's a hardy, low-maintenance garden staple that returns reliably year after year.
When should you plant Daylily Cherry Cheeks in your zone?
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Example Daylily Cherry Cheeks timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Daylily Cherry Cheeks
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Daylily Cherry Cheeks blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Daylily Cherry Cheeks dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; extremely hardy and adaptable
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Get my Daylily Cherry Cheeks timeline →Growth Stages
Spring Emergence
March-MayStrap-like green foliage emerges from the ground as temperatures warm; clumps of leaves develop.
Begin regular watering. Apply balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) as growth starts. Remove any dead foliage from previous season.
Vegetative Growth
May-JuneLush mounds of arching, linear green foliage grow vigorously. No flowers yet; plant focuses on building leaf mass.
Water consistently and deeply. Fertilize monthly with balanced or bloom-promoting fertilizer (higher phosphorus).
Flowering
June-August (peak bloom 3-8 weeks)Multiple flower buds emerge on tall scapes above the foliage. Large ruffled blooms with deep red petals and golden-yellow throats open daily for a few weeks or months depending on variety type.
Maintain consistent moisture. Deadhead spent flowers (they drop naturally). Continue fertilizing to extend bloom time. Stake tall varieties if necessary.
Post-Bloom & Rest
August-NovemberFlowering slows; foliage remains green and photosynthetic. Seed pods may develop if flowers were pollinated.
Reduce fertilizer frequency. Cut back spent scapes once all buds have bloomed. Maintain moderate watering.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe. Improve air circulation.
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects.
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Remove affected flowers; spray with neem oil or spinosad. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer which promotes susceptibility.
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and
Hand-pick; use diatomaceous earth or copper tape barriers. Beer traps and predatory beetles help.
Uses
Edible Flowers & Buds
CulinaryDaylily buds and flowers are edible in many cuisines, particularly Asian cooking. Buds can be stir-fried, steamed, or dried for later use, with a delicate, slightly sweet flavor. [source]
Traditional Medicine
MedicinalIn traditional Chinese medicine, daylily flowers (called 'golden needles') are used to promote relaxation and are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
CraftThe striking blooms with ruffled petals make excellent short-lived cut flowers for floral arrangements and displays. Pick in morning for longest vase life. [source]
Ornamental Landscaping
HouseholdCherry Cheeks is prized as a landscape perennial for borders, mass plantings, and mixed gardens. Its reliable, showy blooms and low maintenance make it a garden workhorse. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeThe bright, open flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing valuable nectar and pollen for pollinators throughout the blooming season. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Daylilies are ornamental flowers not typically harvested, but buds can be picked just before opening for fresh arrangements (they will bloom indoors). Some cultures eat daylily buds and flowers fresh or dried in culinary dishes—harvest in early morning when fully developed but not yet opened.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Each flower of a daylily blooms for only one day (hence the name), opening in the morning and closing by evening. However, a single plant produces multiple buds in succession, providing weeks or months of continuous blooms.
- 🌱 Daylilies are named Hemerocallis from Greek words 'hemera' (day) and 'kallos' (beauty), literally meaning 'beauty for a day.' There are over 35,000 registered daylily cultivars worldwide, making them one of the most hybridized ornamental plants.
- 🌱 Cherry Cheeks and other red daylilies are relatively modern developments; most wild daylilies are yellow. The breeding of deep red, burgundy, and bi-color varieties expanded dramatically in the late 20th century through deliberate hybridization programs.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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