Hemerocallis fulva

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Hemerocallidaceae

Genus

Hemerocallis

Life cycle

perennial

Height

1 m

Spread

1 m

Fertility

self sterile

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and young shoots - cooked^{[19][5][9][10]}. An asparagus or celery substitute. An excellent sweet tasting vegetable[179, K], though some caution is recommended^[6][7]. The leaves need to be eaten whilst still very young since they quickly become fibrous[K]. Flowers - raw or cooked^[18][2]. The petals are thick and crunchy, making very pleasant eating raw, with a nice sweetness at the base because of the nectar[K]. The flowers can also be dried and used as a thickener in soups etc^[18][10]. In this case, they are picked when somewhat withered and closed^[19]. A rich source of iron^[15]. Flower buds - raw or cooked^{[18][2][3][5]}. A pea-like flavour^[19]. Can be dried and used as a relish^[8]. The dried flower contains about 9.3% protein. 25% fat!?, 60% carbohydrate (rich in sugar), 0.9% ash. It is rich in vitamin A^[9]. Tubers - raw or cooked^[10]. A nutty flavour^[18]. Young tubers are best, though the central portion of older tubers is also good^[19].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Diuretic, febrifuge, laxative (mild)^[18][8][13]. The flowers are anodyne, antiemetic, antispasmodic, depurative, febrifuge and sedative^[15]. In China they are used as an anodyne for women in childbirth^[16]. An extract of the flowers is used as a blood purifier^[16]. The rhizome has shown antimicrobial acivity, it is also tuberculostatic and has an action against the parasitic worms that cause filariasis^[17]. It is used in Korea to treat oppilation, jaundice, constipation and pneumonia^[17]. The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning^[13]. The root also has a folk history of use in the treatment of cancer - extracts from the roots have shown antitumour activity^[15]. A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic^[13][15].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The tough dried foliage is plaited into cord and used for making footwear^[13]. Plants form a spreading clump and are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 90cm apart each way^[14]. The dead leaves should be left on the ground in the winter to ensure effective cover^[14]. The cultivar 'Kwanso Flore Pleno' has been especially mentioned^[14].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Soil surface

Environment

Range

Of uncertain origin. A garden escape in Britain.

Habitat

Common and widespread in the wild^[13], probably as an escape from cultivation.

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 4+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils^[1], including dry ones, though it prefers a rich moist soil^[4] and a sunny position but tolerating partial shade^[20][4]. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position^[13]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist^[1]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7^[12]. This species is hardy to about -20°c^[11]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved^[12]. The roots have spindle-shaped swellings and spread freely, the plant can become invasive^[13]. A very ornamental plant^[1], it is cultivated in China and Japan for its edible flowers and leaves, there are many named varieties^[12]. Individual flowers are short-lived, opening in the morning and withering in the evening. The plant, however, produces a succession of flowers over a period of about 6 weeks^[13]. The sterile cultivar 'Kwanzo' has double flowers, it has been especially mentioned for these flowers which are said to be crunchy with a nutty aftertaste^[7]. 'Flore Pleno' is another form with double-flowers that have a delicious taste[K]. The sterile cultivar 'Europa' is very vigorous, with long stolons, and each piece of root is capable of growing into a new plant^[13]. This cultivar, which is the form usually supplied from nurseries, succeeds in lawns and has even been known to grow through tarmac^[13]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus^[12]. Many forms of this plant are sterile triploids, probably of garden origin, and do not set seed^[13]. The pollen, however, is fertile and can be used to fertilize other plants^[13]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk^[12].

Related plants

• Hemerocallis species
• Hemerocallis altissima
• Hemerocallis aurantiaca
• Hemerocallis bulbiferum

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

   ↩1↩2

3. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

   ↩

4. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

   ↩1↩2

5. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00

   ↩1↩2

6. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 7. 1985 - 1986. Royal Horticultural Society 1985-00-00

   ↩1↩2

7. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

   ↩1↩2

9. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

   ↩1↩2

10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

11. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

13. Erhardt. W. Hemerocallis. Day Lilies. Batsford. 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7134-7065-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13

14. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

15. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

16. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

17. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2

18. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

19. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

20. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

    ↩