I purchased day lilies from a big box DIY store about four weeks ago. I planted them right away but not sure if I planted them correctly. The box was very vague and the few videos online they were planting roots. Nothing like what I purchased. Mine had a long white stem. Some had greenery on one end that resembled the top of a pineapple others where bare. All had what looked like a bulb with tiny roots on the bottoms. Was I to plant the bulb part along with the white stem in the ground? I only did the bulb part. About 80% are growing but just the tips so this ugly white stem is visible on all of them. Then on the ones that didn't grow the stem is still alive in appearance but the tops are bare or dead. What should I do with those? I will see if I can post a picture in the morning.

Shelly. From your description it sounds like you are more likely to have true lilies (Lilium) than daylilies (Hemerocallis). Daylilies don't have bulbs, they have roots and the leaves fan out from a crown. A true lily grows from a bulb, sends up a stem with some short leaves along it and the top does look a bit like a pineapple. I can post pictures of both later but I imagine someone else will be able to do that before I get to my laptop. Your picture will help when you can post it too.

True Lily:

Bulb:


Lily plant:


Daylily Roots:


Daylily Plant:


The lily picture doesn't show the "pineapple" look because it is flowering. I can take a picture when I go out in the garden unless someone else has one handy before that.

Managed to get a pic of what I assume is the "pineapple" look, these are true lilies (Lilium)



Is this what you are seeing, Shelly?

Exactly. Does it look like I planted them correctly? The ones with stems only do I cut back now or in the fall or leave alone?

OK, so those are true lilies and not daylilies. It looks to me like they have got stretched from trying to grow while still in the box so I would be inclined to leave them alone and see if they can sort themselves out over time. I'll see if one of our lily experts can give you some more advice.

I would just leave them alone and mark where they are planted. They should return to normal next year.

Yes, and leave the naked stem ones, too. They might just dry up, which is fine (the underground bulb will survive). You could then remove those dried up stems. But, more likely, they will act partially like leaves and provide sustenance for the bulb for better growth next year.

If anything produces flower buds, cut the buds off. You'll be disappointed with the flowers this season because they will likely not develop properly, and will probably be misshapen. next year, they will do fine.

I usually try to buy bulbs that haven't sprouted in their bags, precisely because of this kind of thing where the stem has turned all sorts of directions, but you still only want the bulb to be a few inches down. They should grow properly next year, so let this be the year for them to just grow and get energy to the bulbm.