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Pacific Northwest Climate.
The western parts of Washington and Oregon (USA), and southwestern
British Columbia (Canada) enjoy a moderate maritime climate due to
the proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the prevailing westerlies.
Farther east, the Cascade Mountains wring out much of the moisture
in the Pacific air masses, and the eastern parts have a drier, more
continental-like climate.
Compared to much of the USA and Canada, winters west of the mountains
are relatively mild with low temperatures typically in the high 20's
to low 40's F (-4º to +5º
C) and with much precipitation in the form of rain. Summer
temperatures can be in the 70's, 80's and 90's F (21º - 37º ºC),
but without the humidity that is present in the eastern half of the
USA and Canada. Night-time lows in my Willamette Valley garden are
generally cool---in the 50's F (10º - 15º C). Though many
spring days can be sunny and warm, rain often continues until
the end of June, when dry, warm summer days begin to predominate.
In the fall---usually late September through early November,
the rainy days return.
For some official statistics, visit the
Western Region Climate Center,
Oregon Climate
Service at Oregon State University, or the
National Weather
Service in Portland, Oregon.
Daylilies in the Pacific Northwest Climate.
Daylilies love warmth, and will not bloom properly if the weather has
been cold: They fail to open fully, forming "tulip" or "trumpet"-shaped
flowers. In addition, flowers often are distorted: sepals are pinched,
anthers are fused to petals, and extra petals or sepals are common,
with the extra parts often being distorted.
What is "too cold" varies depending on the cultivar. In my garden, most
blooms start to produce good quality flowers when the night-time
low temperature is at least 55º F (13º C) during bud development
on the scape. Typically, this might be in the early part of July.
There is much variation between different cultivars. The challenge
for the Pacific Northwest daylily gardener is to identify those cultivars
that bloom well, even in our often chilly June weather when night-time
lows can be below 50º F (10º C).
Choosing Daylilies: In choosing daylilies to
grow in my garden, I favor those that bloom in "mid-season" or later,
thus the chilly June days are avoided. If the flowers bloom in "early-
midseason" or even earlier, I check to see if they are nocturnal--that is,
they start opening in the late afternoon on one day, and by morning are
fully open. These are often termed "early morning openers" or EMO's.
Because much of their opening takes place while the temperature is still
relatively warm, they have a better chance to open fully than if they
began opening in the wee hours of the morning when daily low
temperatures occur. If in doubt, I ask the grower or hybridizer,
or ask other people who grow the plant.
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