Invasive Ditch Lily: Identification, Removal, and Alternatives

Most gardeners wish to add a fast-growing and beautiful plant to their garden. Ditch lily is one such plant, though it has some limitations, which we discuss later in this article. Ditch lilies are identified by their tall stems and orange petals with red and yellow highlights on the edge of the petals. When gardeners realise that they grew a ditch lily in anticipation that it'll grow fast, but lilies have become invasive, it gets difficult to remove them from the garden. In this blog, we discuss all about invasive ditch lilies- features, methods to remove them, and many more.

Features of the Ditch Lily

• It has bright blooms

• It has low maintenance

• It is drought-resistant

• It can tolerate overwatering

• It thrives in full sun

• It prefers acidic and well-drained soil for robust growth

Why is Ditch Lily Invasive?

There are multiple reasons to support the fact that ditch lilies have invasive characteristics. They spread rapidly through the tuberous roots. Even if a small part of it is left behind, it can reproduce and grow. Owing to the rapid spreading feature, you often see orange daylilies along the road or in abandoned areas. The other perspective is that ditch lilies spread by spreading rhizomes and roots from their clumps. Hence, they disrupt the local ecosystem and curb the growth of the other plants around them by sucking moisture from the soil.

Reasons to Avoid Ditch Lilies for Your Garden

Here is the list of reasons why you should avoid ditch lilies for your garden:

Aggressive Growth: One of the primary reasons to avoid ditch lilies is their invasive growth pattern. They have thick and tuberous roots that spread as a dense mat and suffocate the plants around them. They also compete with grass, wildflowers, and shrubs for water and nutrients.

Tough to Remove Them: Getting rid of a fully grown ditch lily is a tough task because its roots are strong. While removing them, even if a small fragment of the root is left behind, it will grow rapidly.

Short Bloom Duration: Ditch lilies have undoubtedly stunning flowers, but they have a limited bloom period- flowers last for a day, leaving behind a heap of messy foliage, if not maintained properly.

Poor Companion for Other Plants: They compete with other plants around them for water and nutrients. Hence, they are considered a poor companion. Ditch lilies overpower the garden and don't allow other plants to grow. If you wish to diversify the garden with a variety of plants and grow those plants with ditch lilies, you have two options- ditch the ditch lilies or ditch the other plants.

Monotonous Appearance: At times, the visual appeal of ditch lilies gets monotonous. This is because they spread in the garden, and all you get to see are orange petals. The one-dimensional appearance compromises on pattern and texture in the garden.

Identification Issue: Ditch lilies resemble the true lilies and cat lilies. Many wildlife enthusiasts get confused between ditch lilies and edible true lilies, which may lead to the ingestion of ditch lilies. Though ditch lilies are not toxic, they can be harmful for humans and pets when ingested.

Ways to Stop Ditch Lilies From Getting Invasive

Though there are no specific ways to deal with the invasive lilies, dividing them and removing them regularly can put a check on their spreading. Also, avoid planting them in the garden; rather, plant them alongside the fence or driveway. This will save other plants grown around them.

Different Methods to Remove Ditch Lilies

When removing the ditch lilies, apart from focusing on the method to remove them, try to eradicate every fragment of the tuberous roots. It will rule out the comeback of the invasive plant. Here are the tips and tricks to remove ditch lilies effectively:

• Use an old shovel to remove the ditch lily because it will help remove the roots effectively. The chances of left-behind roots are reduced.

• Mow the foliage throughout the season. Also, cover the area with mulch during the winter.

• The last option is to use systemic herbicide because it can harm the other plants around in an attempt to remove the ditch lily.

Alternative to Ditch Lily

Here is the list of plants that can be considered as an alternative to invasive ditch lilies. They all look partially alike.

1. Asclepias Tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

2. Iris Domestica (Blackberry Lily)

3. Iris Fulva (Copper Iris)

4. Lilium Canadense (Canada Lily)

5. Lilium Philadelphicum (Wood Lily)

6. Rudbeckia Hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)

Conclusion

Invasive ditch lily is a plant that is considered highly invasive due to its rapid spreading feature. As it grows fast, it captures the surrounding area and starts competing with other surrounding plants for water and nutrients. If you wish to grow ditch lilies, consider all the factors and make the decision.