From our perspective as daylilies (Hemerocallis), the goal is simple: to thrive and multiply, ensuring our genetic legacy continues. Humans can assist us in this endeavor through two primary methods: division and seed propagation. Each method serves a different purpose for our survival and has distinct consequences for our genetic makeup. Division is an act of immediate, faithful replication, while growing from seed is a grand genetic experiment, a lottery of traits that ensures our long-term adaptability.
When a gardener divides our mature clump, they are not creating a new individual but rather separating an existing one. We grow from a central crown, sending out new "fans" of leaves and roots each year. Over time, a single plant can become a large, dense colony. From our point of view, division is a form of vegetative reproduction, akin to how a strawberry plant sends out runners. Each separated fan is a genetic clone, an exact replica of the parent plant. This process is incredibly efficient. The new division already has a fully developed root system and leaf structure, allowing it to focus energy immediately on establishing itself and flowering, often within the same season. For us, this is a low-risk, high-reward strategy to quickly colonize a favorable area. The resulting plant will have the exact same flower color, size, scent, and bloom time as its parent.
Growing from seed is a much more adventurous and uncertain path. It begins with pollination, where insects or the wind transfer pollen from the anthers of one of our flowers to the stigma of another. This union combines the genetic material of two different parent plants. The resulting seed is not a clone but a unique individual, carrying a novel mix of traits from both its mother and its father. For our species, this genetic diversity is our primary defense against changing environments, pests, and diseases. A new pathogen might wipe out a population of clones, but a genetically diverse population grown from seed will likely have some individuals with resistance, ensuring the survival of our line.
The journey from seed to flowering plant is one of patience. After a seed is sown, it must germinate, a process that requires the right conditions of moisture, temperature, and light. The tiny seedling that emerges is vulnerable, with minimal root and leaf structures. It must spend one to three full growing seasons building a strong root system and storing energy in its crown before it has enough resources to even consider flowering. This is a significant investment of time and energy with no guaranteed outcome. The flower that finally emerges is a surprise—it could be a stunning new color combination, an improved form, or it might be less desirable than its parents. For us, this is the essence of evolution and adaptation in action.
Therefore, from our perspective as plants, the choice between division and seed depends on the gardener's objective. If the goal is to quickly and reliably produce more of a specific, beloved cultivar—like the stunning 'Stella de Oro'—division is the only way. It preserves our unique identity. If the goal is to contribute to the genetic diversity of the garden, to experiment, and to potentially discover a new and beautiful form, then growing from seed is the path to take. It is a slower, more uncertain journey, but it is the very process that has allowed our species to flourish and adapt for millennia. Both methods are vital for our continued success in your gardens.
