I'd like to alert you to Daylily Rust. This is a fungus that has been discovered attacking Daylilies in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Experts are concerned that this fungus could be a serious threat to Daylily crops in the area. The fungus appears as bright yellow or orange colored spots with raised pustules on the foliage. Orange colored spores emerge from the pustules. As the disease gets worse the leaves turn yellow and dry up. If you suspect that your Daylilies are infected remove all infected foliage and burn or bury the clippings. Do not put them in your compost bin. Sterilize your pruning shears after removing the infected foliage. Use a solution of 70% alcohol and 10% bleach or Lysol to sterilize your shears. For more information about this disease contact your local county extension agent.
Fungus attacking daylilies
I just went to a conference for greenhouse growers sponsored by the Univ. of Tenn and the TFGA. We had a short class about daylily rust. It first appeared in this country last year in Florida. It was found in Tenn in May 2001. It is native to Asia, was brought to this country on daylilies from Costa Rica. It is worst in Texas and Florida. Here is what you do:
When buying new daylilies, isolate them for 30 days because they may be infected but symptomless. They need to be 50 yards from any other daylilies. If you see symptoms, cut off all foliage and spray with something containing chlorothalonil (daconil). In the fall, clean up ALL foliage. The spores cannot survive the winter without a host. It needs leaves to survive on, it doesn't live on the roots. It will not survive overwinter in zone 6 or colder. Patrina is an alternate host, so be sure you don't plant it close to your daylilies (50 yards away). If someone hasn't added new daylilies and hasn't had symptoms for one year, they should be out of danger. Buy your daylilies after June, when symptoms will be more appearent. Semi-evergreen and evergreen varieties have more problems than the ones that go completely dormant in the winter.
You can get more info at cyberlily.com