Stella de Oro (STEL-uh dee oh-ROH) is a small, vigorously growing dormant daylily that produces masses of lovely bright gold flowers throughout the spring and summer months.
This long-blooming, award-winning herbaceous perennial is one of the most popular daylilies. More on daylilies bloom time.
You may hear this plant commonly referred to as:
- Stella de Oro daylily
- Stella d’Oro daylily
- Stella Doro daylily
- Stella de Oro
- Daylily
It is a member of the Asphodelaceae (as-foh-del-AY-see-ee) family of plants of the Hemerocallis (hem-er-oh-KAL-iss) genus.
This is a group of around 15 species of daylilies hailing from Asia and Central Europe.
The botanical name, Hemerocallis, is Greek and means “day” (hemera) “beauty” (kallos).
This refers to the fact that individual flowers bloom only for one day.
However, this plant produces many flowers and stays in bloom fairly constantly throughout the growing season. (source)
Stella De Oro Daylily Care
Size And Growth
This small daylily attains a height of about 11” inches with a spread of approximately 18” inches.
The dark green leaves of this plant are blade or strap-like and arching. They grow in compact clumps beneath the taller stems and flowers.
Flowering And Fragrance
Because this is a dormant winter daylily, it requires a cold period of dormancy in the winter for a good bloom display.
For this reason, it’s best not to try to grow this plant in hardiness zones higher than zone 9.
In cooler climates, the plant blooms in great abundance from May through August.
The fragrant, showy flowers are bright yellow with deeper golden throats.
Flowers are a little under 3″ inches across and have pretty, ruffled edges.
They stand atop tall, leafless stems.
Individual flowers typically last for only a day or two, but they are produced in rapid succession throughout the spring and summer.
Light And Temperature
Stella de Oro grows well in light exposures ranging from partial shade to full sun.
These plants are quite tolerant of high heat and humidity in the summertime.
Even so, in very hot areas, they will do best in a location that provides full sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
While you can grow this daylily in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10, it performs best in zones 3 to 8.
Too much heat, and no dormant season, will result in scant blooms.
Watering And Feeding
Keep the soil moist until plants are well-established.
Once established, provide deep, occasional watering early in the day.
Avoid overhead watering or watering at night as this can cause problems with fungal diseases, such as Daylily Rust.
Daylilies grown in good garden soil that has been amended with organic matter, such as compost or manure, do not need to be fertilized.
In poor soil, apply a complete all-purpose fertilizer, such as 5-10-5 early in the springtime.
If your soil is very poor, you can repeat this treatment mid-summer or early in the autumn.
Soil And Transplanting
Plant Stella de Oro in well-draining, fertile, loamy soil that has been amended with plenty of organic matter.
These plants cannot tolerate standing in water, so a raised bed setting is really best.
Plant the bulbs to the base of the crown, making sure that any green growth stays above the soil line.
Grooming And Maintenance
Deadhead your plants frequently to encourage more blooming.
Here are the following tips to follow:
- Cut back daylily stems after all blooming has finished.
- When the foliage has died for the winter, cut it all the way back to the ground.
- Divide tubers once every 3 or 4 years late in the autumn, after all growth has finished, or early in the springtime before it begins.
To do so, follow these steps:
- Dig up the entire plant.
- Separate the tubers carefully to avoid damaging them.
How To Propagate Stella de Oro Daylily?
This daylily is a hybrid and will not grow true from seed.
For this reason, the best way to propagate it is through division, as described above.
Stella De Oro Daylily Pest Or Disease Problems
When grown in the right setting with good, well-draining soil, correct watering, and lack of crowding, Stella de Oro is fairly trouble-free.
Poor soil, overwatering, overcrowding, and/or the wrong amount of light will lead to problems, such as Daylily Rust (Puccinia hemerocallidis).
It is a fungal infection that manifests as yellowing leaves with ugly, rusty spots.
Daylily Rust is more likely in very hot, humid climates where there is no winter freeze.
Additionally, overhead watering greatly contributes to the development of this fungus.
The spores of the fungus are wind-borne, and they can also be spread on gardening equipment, clothing, and on your hands.
Healthy plants will resist infection, so take care to provide your plants with good stewardship.
Keep your gardening tools and your hands clean, and wear clean clothing when gardening.
Are Daylily Plants Considered Toxic or Poisonous to People, Kids, or Pets?
All members of the Hemerocallis genus are non-toxic for dogs and toxic for cats.
Rabbits and deer tend to avoid these plants.
Is The Stella de Oro Plant Considered Invasive?
Unlike many types of daylily, Stella de Oro is not invasive.
The plant tends to spread fairly slowly and stays pretty well confined to its small, mounding growth habit.
Suggested Uses Of Stella de Oro Daylily
This carefree dwarf cultivar is a good choice for a smaller garden.
Stella de Oro does well planted in:
- Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens
- Mass Plantings
- Rock Gardens
- Containers
- Borders
- Edging
- Drifts
The plant resists rabbits, deer, air pollution, and erosion, so it is a good choice in a wide variety of fairly sunny settings.
It can do well naturalized in a wild setting, placed in a planter in a commercial or urban setting, or almost any garden setting in between these extremes.