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Asphodelaceae FAMILY

Hemerocallis forrestii

Hemerocallis forrestii

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[1]. (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[PFAF].)

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Perennial
Growth—

Succeeds in most soils[2], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil[1]. 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[1]. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[2]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[3]. Some reports say that this species is not hardy in Britain[1], whilst another says that it is hardy to zone 5 (tolerating quite heavy frosts[3]. 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[PFAF]. It is possible that this plant is actually a hybrid Hemerocallis forrestii x Hemerocallis middendorffii[1]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3]. 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[1]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[2]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[4]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[3].

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[PFAF]. 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[PFAF]. 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. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Hemerocallis+forrestii>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Hemerocallis. Day Lilies. — Erhardt. W. · Batsford. · 1992 · ISBN 0-7134-7065-8 ↩︎A comprehensive book on the species with a short section on their uses.
  2. [2]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  5. [5]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎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.
  6. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎