"Natty_Dread" wrote in message
.. .
I'm growing several varieties of day lily this year, some Asiatics which I
planted as bulbs and a few varities of Hemerocallis which I purchased as
established plants. Two of the Hemerocallis plants, H. Flava and H.
Pardon
Me, have some blooms that never opened, and those bloom "pods" (for lack
of
a better word) have stayed green but are now hard. I broke one open to
check it out and found what looked like small round black seeds inside.
Are
these actually seeds that can be sown? I've never thought of lilies as
coming from anything except bulbs, but I guess the bulbs have to come from
somewhere also! Any ideas what these things might be? Thanks in advance
for any information.

Rhonda
Alexandria, VA
USDA Zone 7

You are describing the seed pods of the daylily and not the bloom buds.
Buds are more elongated and soft. Some types of daylilies make a slightly
pointed seed pod but it is likely to be ribbed like a pumpkin. The Asiatic
are not Hemerocallis they are lilium, true lilies. So I will not mix Asiatic
into this discussion. I grow them but I am no expert on them and I do not
grow them from seed.

The daylily H. flava is a species daylily. Pardon Me is a hybrid. All
hybrid seeds do not bloom true to the parent plant. Those seeds can be any
kind of daylily flower that shows the genetics of the gene pool in the
genetic line of pod and pollen parent for generations. You can plant and
grow daylilies from seed. The pod develops after pollen is placed on the
stigma. The pod will continue to grow until it begins to darken and splits
open. When the pod shows signs it is opening, it is time to harvest the
pod. Let the seeds dry then plant or refrigerate until you plan to start
the seeds.

If you live in a cold climate, you can direct sow the seeds late fall. Most
hybridizers believe the hemerocallis seeds need a cold period to break
dormancy. The winter can be the cold period planted in the ground or your
refrigerator can be the cold period. They should be cold for about 6 weeks.
That period of time is also up for debate. 4-6 weeks is a good period of
time to hold the seeds. If seeds are held in the refrigerator until spring,
you can plant them early spring in the garden, or you can plant them inside
in potting soil and transplant the little plants in the garden.

If you break open a pod and the seeds are soft or white, the seeds are not
ripe and probably will not grow.

Wil