The Mo-Kan Daylily Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation, cultivation, and enjoyment of daylilies (Hemerocallis) throughout the Greater Kansas City area.

Our purpose is to encourage interest in daylilies and related gardening activities, provide educational opportunities, and contribute to the beauty of our communities.

Through educational programs, garden tours, public plant sales, and other activities, we bring together gardeners of all experience levels who share an enthusiasm for these remarkable flowers.

We are a member of the American Daylily Society (ADS), Region 11, which includes Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We also support horticultural education through scholarships and contributions to gardening-related programs.

George E. Lenington (1902–1990)

George E. Lenington played a significant role in the development of daylily gardening, both in Kansas City and throughout the United States.

Born in Chicago and raised in Kansas, Lenington developed an early interest in horticulture through his family's nursery. He settled in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1936.

A charter member of the national Hemerocallis Society, he served as its third president from 1948 to 1949 and helped guide its development into a national organization.

In 1950, he organized the Kansas City Hemerocallis Society, laying the foundation for the local daylily community that continues today.

Lenington was also an accomplished hybridizer, registering 139 daylily cultivars, seven of which received Awards of Merit. His contributions earned him the Helen Field Fischer Medal in 1955 and the Bertrand Farr Medal in 1970.

He and his family established Lenington Nurseries in Kansas City in 1952. His wife, Lucille, was also a prolific hybridizer, registering 82 daylilies.

Lenington believed that daylilies should be evaluated not only for the beauty of their flowers but also for their vigor, hardiness, and overall performance in the garden. He encouraged public participation in evaluating cultivars, an approach reflecting his commitment to horticultural education.

His legacy continues through the Lenington All-American Award, which he established and funded, with the first award presented in 1970.

Whether you're an experienced daylily grower or just beginning to discover these beautiful perennials, the MoKan Daylily Society offers opportunities to learn, participate, and connect with fellow gardeners.

Join Our Meetings and Activities

Attend club meetings, educational programs, garden tours, and other events to learn about growing and enjoying daylilies.

Explore Our Display Gardens

Visit our daylily display gardens at Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri. Established in 2013, these gardens feature more than 40 daylily cultivars, including selections introduced by hybridizers from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Participate in Our Public Plant Sale

Our public plant sale offers an opportunity to purchase daylilies donated by club members while supporting the society's educational and community activities.

Become a Member

Membership is available to individuals, households, and youth. We welcome gardeners of all experience levels who share an interest in daylilies and gardening.

We invite you to join us and discover the rewards of growing daylilies and sharing that enjoyment with others.

Volunteer and Earn Daylily Dollars

Members can help maintain display gardens, participate in plant sales, serve on committees, and assist with other club activities. Through our Daylily Dollars program, members earn credits for participating and volunteering that can be used to "purchase" daylilies at designated club auctions.