Hemerocallis species

Physical Characteristics

Hemerocallis species is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

A range of garden hybrids.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots Edible Uses: Leaves and young shoots - cooked. They have a delicious sweet flavour, but must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[K]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked. The quality varies from cultivar to cultivar. All are pleasantly sweet and crunchy, though some leave an unpleasant after-taste in the mouth. In general, those with yellow or scented flowers are less desirable than those with brown to red flowers[K]. Root - raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning[205]. A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[205].

Known Hazards

Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[205]. (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].)