While humans have ascribed rich symbolic meanings to our colors, it is crucial to understand that from a botanical perspective, our coloration is not for artistry but for survival and propagation. Our vibrant hues are the result of complex biochemical processes and serve specific, practical functions in our life cycle.
The colors you admire in our daylily (Hemerocallis) blooms are primarily due to three types of pigments: anthocyanins (which produce red, purple, and blue shades), carotenoids (responsible for yellows, oranges, and reds), and chlorophyll (the green in foliage and sometimes influencing flower bases). These pigments are not random; they are synthesized in our cells in response to genetic coding and environmental factors like light intensity and soil pH. Their primary biological function is to attract specific pollinators. Bees, for instance, are highly attracted to blue and yellow hues, while butterflies often favor bright reds and oranges. Our color is our advertisement.
While we do not experience symbolism, we can observe the correlations humans have drawn based on our biological traits and behaviors.
Biologically, our yellow petals are rich in carotenoid pigments. We are often some of the sunniest and most visible blooms in the garden. Humans associate this bright, cheerful color with happiness and new beginnings. This connection likely stems from our visual resemblance to the sun, a universal symbol of energy and life, and our tendency to be vigorous, early-season bloomers that signal the arrival of summer.
The classic orange ditch lily is one of the most successful and resilient species. Our intense orange color, a combination of carotenoids and sometimes anthocyanins, is exceptionally good at attracting pollinators from a distance. Our vigorous, almost invasive growth habit and ability to thrive in challenging conditions have led humans to associate us with passion, energy, and confidence. We symbolize a fierce will to live and prosper.
These deeper colors are created by higher concentrations of anthocyanin pigments. From a plant's viewpoint, these richer, often more complex colors can attract a different set of pollinators and may also be influenced by cooler growing temperatures. To humans, red has long been the color of deep emotion—love, desire, and devotion. The rarity of true red and deep purple in the early days of hybridization made these colors highly coveted, thus strengthening their association with rarity and majesty.
These softer shades are often the result of a delicate balance and lower concentration of anthocyanin pigments (reds) mixed with white or yellow base tones. They represent a more gentle and nuanced attraction strategy. Consequently, humans see these colors as expressions of tenderness, femininity, and friendship. Their gentle appearance is less aggressive than a bold orange or red, lending them a softer symbolism.
A white daylily lacks pigmentation in its petals; it does not produce anthocyanins or carotenoids in those tissues. This creates a pure, reflective surface. Biologically, white flowers are often highly fragrant to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths, compensating for their lack of color visibility at night. For humans, this absence of color has become a powerful symbol of purity, innocence, and remembrance, making us a common feature in serene garden spaces and symbolic ceremonies.
