Practical
Plants

Hemerocallis multiflora

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
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.

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[4]. (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 - cooked[4]. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[K]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked. Relatively small for a day lily, but the flowers are crisp with a pleasant sweetness and no aftertaste - they make a delicious addition to salads[K]. The flowers can also 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[4]. Root - raw or cooked[K]. We have found them to be tender but fairly bland with a slight sweetness[K]. The roots are slightly fleshy, with a swollen, tuberous part near the tip[6]. 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[4]. A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[4].

Product or use
Antidote
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[4].

Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China in Hunan, Japan.
Habitat
Hill forests and openings in forests on hilltops at elevations of 700 - 1000 metresin China[6].
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[3]. 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[2] but tolerating partial shade[7]. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position[4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[3]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3]. This species is closely related to H. micrantha and H. plicata[4]. Individual flowers are short-lived but the plant produces a succession of blooms. Each scape carries between 75 and 100 blooms[4]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[3]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[3].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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