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Asphodelaceae FAMILY

Hemerocallis species

Hemerocallis species

Edibility
4/5
Medicinal
1/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial
Growth—

There are many cultivars of garden origin in this genus that cannot be placed as part of a species simply because they are the result of many generations of hybridization. In general they all have edible flowers, young shoots and roots, though the quality will vary considerably from cultivar to cultivar. The following notes are general for the genus. Succeeds in most soils[1], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil[2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Succeeding in sun or shade, it produces more flowers in a sunny position though these flowers can be shorter-lived in very sunny positions[2]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[3]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3]. Individual flowers are very short-lived, they open in the late afternoon and fade in the following morning[2]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[1]. 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, pot up 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]. Hemerocallis cultivars will not breed true from seed, though seedlings do offer an opportunity to develop superior varieties for eating[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++species>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]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 Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  2. [2]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.
  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. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎