Daylilies And Tetraploids Comparison

With crinkled edges and a dazzling array of colors, daylilies are unsurprisingly a garden favorite. They bloom in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, and catch heavy interest due to this. Hence the name, a daylily is a starchy flower that has a bloom that only lasts for single day. For decades, many gardeners have been fascinated by daylilies for the extreme versatility of the appearance of the plant. Many amateur horticulturists also attempt to cross-pollinate different daylilies in order to obtain even more unique flowers. However, not all daylilies are the same genetically, which complexifies the process of breeding the plants. If the two plants are not of the same genetic ploidy, then the two plants cannot produce seed without
While most daylily plants are diploid, which means that each plant has only two pairs of chromosomes in each cell, many new, mutated daylilies have become tetraploids, which insinuates that they have four sets of chromosomes instead of the typical two. With these extra chromosomes, tetraploids are given more potential than their diploid sisters for fresh, unique crosses, but this is at the cost of a lowered fertility rate. Tetraploids are considered to be stronger plants, as they are bestowed with a hardy stem, vigorous leaves and blooms, and an overall healthier, denser plant. Colors in the tetraploid flowers also tend to be much more vivid than their diploid counterparts. As said by many gardeners, "Tetraploid daylilies... have a number of advantages over the diploids." (Daylilies: Frequently Asked Questions) However, diploid daylilies also have advantages, but it may depend on a gardener's
For instance, pink daylilies have a tendency to be diploids rather than tetraploids, which for many dips them over to the two-chromosome side. Another deviation from tetraploids that diploids partake in is the presence of "spider" daylilies, bloom with long, spindling petals, "double" daylilies, flowers with a huge burst of petals surrounding the pistils, and "mini" daylilies, blooms of a miniature size. These coveted variations are usually only found as diploids. Another benefit is diploids being very fertile, which improves chances of producing a multitude of diploids. Due to the strong ability to reproduce, there is an abundance of diploid daylilies in a number that easily surpasses tetraploids. As stated by another gardener, "Diploid daylilies continue to charm growers with their exquisite flower form, grace, and colors." (Daylilies: Frequently Asked Questions) Despite these differences, the classification of diploids and tetraploids are still unified as one plant, due to the staggering similarities between the