From your description, I'd guess someone gave you a 'ditch' or 'alley' daylily. They are tough as nails. Personally I like them and have several stands around the place. But I don't plant them in the beds with my other daylilies.
You can find daylilies in all colors except true blue and white. Plants range in sizes from very small to five feet...maybe more. Their grasslike foliage can be dormant in winter or stay green. Some bloom early, some bloom later. Since they all were developed from the orange daylily, there are lots of orange and yellows around....which happen to be my favorite colors.
You can buy them online. I buy mostly from oakesdaylilies.com in Tenn. You can go to their website and see a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Lowes, Home Depot and local garden centers will likely carry them, too. You can pay a few dollars to a thousand dollars.
I'm not a gardener, but have developed a love for them. They are not magic. I've learned that while they are drought tolerant, they need water to grow and bloom. Oh, plant the tall ones in the back of the flower bed.
This website is great for a beginner. Good luck. Let us know what you choose for your first daylily.
