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.

Common Name: Grassleaf Day Lily

General Information

Hemerocallis minor is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of stems up to 60cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - eastern Siberia, Russian Far East, Mongolia, northern China, Korea.

Habitat

Water meadows, elevated wet places with sandy soils, forest glades, mountain slopes and scrub[]. Forests, thickets, grassy slopes, meadows, waste fields, wet places along valleys; at elevations from 200 - 2,600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils[], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil and a sunny position[] but tolerating partial shade[]. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[].
A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
A very ornamental plant, its roots are slender and not tuberous, whilst the rhizomes are not spreading[]. The roots sometimes have bulbous swellings at their tips[]. The flowers open in the evening and live for 1 - 2 days[, ]. The flowers have a powerful scent of honeysuckle[].
Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked[, , , , ]. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[]. One report says that eating these leaves appears to stimulate or intoxicate to some extent[].

Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Considered to be a great delicacy[]. The flowers are a traditional food in China where they are steamed and then dried[]. The flowers can be dried and used as a relish or a thickener in soups etc[, ]. The flower buds contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[].

Root - raw or cooked[, ]. A radish-like flavour but not so sharp[]. The roots are rope-like, sometimes fibrous, 1 - 4mm thick, without a tuberous part[].

Medicinal

Anodyne, antidote, diuretic, febrifuge[].
The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning[]. The root also has a folk history of use in the treatment of cancer - extracts from the roots have shown antitumour activity[].
A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[].

Other Uses

The tough dried foliage is plaited into cord and used for making footwear[].

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[].
Division in spring or after flowering in late summer or autumn[]. Division is very quick and easy, succeeding at almost any time of the year[]. 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.