Practical
Plants

Hemerocallis middendorffii esculenta

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

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.

Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[10]. (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

Leaves and young shoots - cooked[2][4][6][7]. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[K]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[2][5][6][7]. The flowers are crisp and succulent with a delicious sweet flavour and no aftertaste[K]. The flowers can be dried and used as a thickener in soups etc. The flower buds contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[10].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

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.

The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning[10]. A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[10].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Diuretic

Material uses

The tough dried foliage is plaited into cord and used for making footwear[10]. Plants form a spreading clump and are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[11]. The dead leaves should be left on the ground in the winter to ensure effective cover[11]. (This report was for a plant labelled H. middendorfiana, which I have assumed is a mis-spelling of this species[K])

Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan
Habitat
Meadows in high mountains, N. and C. Japan[14][10]. Forests, forest margins, grassy slopes, stony places and roadsides at elevations of 500 - 2500 metres in China[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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[9]. 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

Succeeds in most soils[1], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil and a sunny position[3] but tolerating partial shade[15]. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position[10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[9]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[9]. Individual flowers only live for one day[10]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved but then form large clumps[9][8]. The roots are fibrous without any obvious swellings[10]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[12]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[9].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  14. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

Edit this page