Daylily vs Hydrangea

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Daylily

Hemerocallis spp.

Asparagaceae · flowers

EdibleLow Maintenance

Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangeaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Daylily (Zones 3-10)

Hydrangea (Zones 5-9)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Daylily	Hydrangea
Scientific Name	Hemerocallis spp.	Hydrangea macrophylla
Family	Asparagaceae	Hydrangeaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade	⛅ Part Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium to High
Soil	Adaptable	Rich, Moist
Height	3'	6'
Spread	2'	6'
Bloom Season	Summer	Summer
Bloom Color	Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink	Blue, Pink, White
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Asia	Japan
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Daylily

Yes — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Hydrangea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Daylily

✓Remove spent scapes after blooming.
✓Divide every 3-5 years when clumps become crowded.
✓Virtually pest and disease free.

Hydrangea

✓Prune after flowering on old wood varieties.
✓Add aluminum sulfate for blue flowers, lime for pink.
✓Protect from afternoon sun in hot climates.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Daylily if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–10.

Choose Hydrangea if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade with medium to high water in zones 5–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View DaylilyProfile →View HydrangeaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Daylily and Hydrangea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Daylily grows in USDA zones 3-10, while Hydrangea grows in zones 5-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 9.

Do Daylily and Hydrangea have the same sun and water needs?

Daylily needs full sun to part shade and medium water, while Hydrangea needs part shade and medium to high water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Daylily or Hydrangea?

Hydrangea grows taller at 6' compared to Daylily at 3'. Hydrangea spreads 6' while Daylily spreads 2'.

Are Daylily and Hydrangea deer resistant?

Hydrangea is deer resistant, but Daylily is not. If deer are a concern, Hydrangea is the better choice, or protect Daylily with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Daylily or Hydrangea?

Daylily has low maintenance while Hydrangea has medium maintenance. Daylily may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Daylily	Hydrangea
Scientific Name	Hemerocallis spp.	Hydrangea macrophylla
Family	Asparagaceae	Hydrangeaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade	⛅ Part Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium to High
Soil	Adaptable	Rich, Moist
Height	3'	6'
Spread	2'	6'
Bloom Season	Summer	Summer
Bloom Color	Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink	Blue, Pink, White
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Asia	Japan
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Daylily if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–10.

Choose Hydrangea if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade with medium to high water in zones 5–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Daylily and Hydrangea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Daylily grows in USDA zones 3-10, while Hydrangea grows in zones 5-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 9.

Do Daylily and Hydrangea have the same sun and water needs?

Daylily needs full sun to part shade and medium water, while Hydrangea needs part shade and medium to high water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Daylily or Hydrangea?

Hydrangea grows taller at 6' compared to Daylily at 3'. Hydrangea spreads 6' while Daylily spreads 2'.

Are Daylily and Hydrangea deer resistant?

Hydrangea is deer resistant, but Daylily is not. If deer are a concern, Hydrangea is the better choice, or protect Daylily with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Daylily or Hydrangea?

Daylily has low maintenance while Hydrangea has medium maintenance. Daylily may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.