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Useful Temperate Plants

Hemerocallis forrestii

Diels

Asphodelaceae


Hemerocallis is a very difficult genus taxonomically, with no overall concensus amongst botanists as to how many distinct species there are and the delineation between them. The genus as a whole needs a comprehensive revision. We are trying to follow the most recent thinking for each species, though it is inevitable that a number of species we have included in the genus will have to be amended as and when a comprehensive new treatment is published.

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Hemerocallis forrestii is an evergreen perennial plant producing a cluster of stems 40 - 80cm tall. The roots are slightly fleshy, with a large, globose, swollen, tuberous part near the tip around 15 - 25mm × 35 - 45cm[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
]. (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
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].)

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - China (southwest Sichuan, northwest Yunnan)

Habitat

Dry ridges and rocky banks; at elevations around 250 metres[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
]. Forests, grassy slopes and limestone cliffs; at elevations from 2,300 - 3,200 metres[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.40 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeding in sun or shade, it produces more flowers in a sunny position though these flowers can be shorter-lived in very sunny positions[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
]. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Some reports say that this species is not hardy in Britain[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
], whilst another says that it is hardy to zone 5 (tolerating quite heavy frosts[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. There is a plant at Kew Botanical Gardens that bears this name and appears to be fully hardy, growing near the base of a west-facing brick wall[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. It is possible that this plant is actually a hybrid Hemerocallis forrestii x Hemerocallis middendorffii[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Individual flowers are very short-lived, usually withering within 24 hours of opening. The plants produce a succession of blooms over a period of a month or more[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
].
Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked.

Root - raw or cooked. The roots are swollen and conspicuously enlarged at each end[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The roots are slightly fleshy, with a large, globose, swollen, tuberous part near the tip[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Medicinal

The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
].
A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
].

Other Uses

The tough dried foliage is plaited into cord and used for making footwear[
205
Title
Hemerocallis. Day Lilies.
Publication
 
Author
Erhardt. W.
Publisher
Batsford.
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7134-7065-8
Description
A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
].

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
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division in spring or after flowering in late summer or autumn[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Division is very quick and easy, succeeding at almost any time of the year[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. 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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Hemerocallis+forrestii>

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