Practical
Plants

Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus

Yellow Day Lily

a perennial member of the Hemerocallis genus in the family Hemerocallidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[8]. (This report does not make clear what it means by blanching, it could be excluding light from the growing shoots or immersing in boiling water[K].)

Edible uses

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

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked like asparagus or celery[15][2][5]. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[K]. Flower buds - raw or cooked. They taste somewhat like green beans[15][2]. They contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[8]. Flowers - raw or cooked[85, K]. They can be dried and used as a thickener in soups etc[5]. If the flowers are picked just as they start to wither they can be used as a condiment[15]. The flowers are a traditional food in China where they are steamed and then dried[13]. Root - cooked[15][2]. They taste like a blend of sweet corn and salsify[5]. We have found them to be tender but fairly bland with a slight sweetness[K]. The swollen roots are quite small and are only really worthwhile using if the plant is being dug up for divisions or some other reason[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

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.

The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning[8]. The root also has a folk history of use in the treatment of cancer - extracts from the roots have shown antitumour activity[10]. A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[8].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Diuretic

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[8]. Plants form a spreading clump and are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[9]. The dead leaves should be left on the ground in the winter to ensure effective cover[9].

Product or use
Weaving

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Original habitat is obscure, possibly China. An occasional garden escape in Britain.
Habitat
Rocky mountain woods, wet meadows and riversides on foothills of the S.E. Alps in Europe[14].
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.

Seed - sow in the middle of spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid and good. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow the plants on for their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring[K]. Division in spring or after flowering in late summer or autumn[7]. Division is very quick and easy, succeeding at almost any time of the year[K]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most soils[1], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil and a sunny position[3] but tolerating partial shade[16][3]. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position[8]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[7]. Plants are very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[6]. A very vigorous plant, spreading by underground rhizomes[1]. The plant has a fibrous root system with occasional spindle-like swellings[8]. Cultivated as a food and medicinal plant in Japan[4]. Individual flowers are short-lived, they open at night and last for 20 - 76 hours. The plant produces a succession of blooms over a period of about 2 months[8]. The flowers are fragrant[8]. The flowers have a honeysuckle-like scent and this can pervade the air for a considerable distance when warmed by the summer sunshine[12]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[7]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[7]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[11]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[7].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  11. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  12. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  13. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  14. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  15. 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

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

    ↩

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