Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus
L.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Yellow Day Lily
General Information
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It has edible, medicinal and miscellaneous uses.
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
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
,
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.
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[
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating |     |
Medicinal Rating |   |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 0.60 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Self-fertile | Yes |
Cultivation Status | 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 and a sunny position[
111- Title
- Popular Hardy Perennials.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sanders. T. W.
- Publisher
- Collingridge
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
] but tolerating partial shade[
88- Title
- The Garden. Volume 112.
- Publication
-
- Author
- RHS.
- Publisher
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Snippets of information from the magazine of the RHS. In particular, there are articles on plants that are resistant to honey fungus, oriental vegetables, Cimicifuga spp, Passiflora species and Cucurbits.
,
111- Title
- Popular Hardy Perennials.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sanders. T. W.
- Publisher
- Collingridge
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
]. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position[
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. 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.
].
Plants are very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[
187- Title
- Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Pan Books
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-330-30936-9
- Description
- Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
].
A very vigorous plant, spreading by underground rhizomes[
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]).
]. The plant has a fibrous root system with occasional spindle-like swellings[
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.
].
Cultivated as a food and medicinal plant in Japan[
127- Title
- The Plantsman. Vol. 7. 1985 - 1986.
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants..
].
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[
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.
]. The flowers are fragrant[
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.
]. The flowers have a honeysuckle-like scent and this can pervade the air for a considerable distance when warmed by the summer sunshine[
245- Title
- Scented Flora of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Genders. R.
- Publisher
- Robert Hale. London.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0-7090-5440-8
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
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.
].
Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[
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.
].
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 - raw or cooked like asparagus or celery[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. 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.
].
Flower buds - raw or cooked. They taste somewhat like green beans[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
]. They contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[
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.
].
Flowers - raw or cooked[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. They can be dried and used as a thickener in soups etc[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. If the flowers are picked just as they start to wither they can be used as a condiment[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
]. The flowers are a traditional food in China where they are steamed and then dried[
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.
].
Root - cooked[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
]. They taste like a blend of sweet corn and salsify[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. We have found them to be tender but fairly bland with a slight sweetness[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. 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- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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.
]. The root also has a folk history of use in the treatment of cancer - extracts from the roots have shown antitumour activity[
218- Title
- Medicinal Plants of China
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications, Inc.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-917256-20-4
- Description
- Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].
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.
].
Plants form a spreading clump and are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[
208- Title
- Plants for Ground Cover
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-460-12609-1
- Description
- An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
]. The dead leaves should be left on the ground in the winter to ensure effective cover[
208- Title
- Plants for Ground Cover
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-460-12609-1
- Description
- An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
].
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.
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