Daylily

Profile

Family

Xanthorrhoeaceae

Habit

perennial

Height

1.2 m

Spread

0.5 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

5 years

First yield

after 1 year

Hardiness

zone 3–10

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

dry – very wet

pH

6 – 7.5

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Leaves and young shoots can be cooked as a replacement for asparagus or celery, offering a sweet flavor. However, caution is needed to prevent the leaves from becoming stringy. The flowers, with thick and crisp petals, have a pleasant sweetness and can be consumed raw or cooked. Additionally, the flowers can be dried and utilized as a soup thickener, being a good source of iron. The flower buds taste similar to peas and are suitable for raw or cooked consumption, with the option of being dried for relish. Dried flowers have approximately 9.3% protein, 25% fat, 60% carbohydrates (sugar-rich), and 0.9% ash, along with a high vitamin A content. Tubers, with a nutty taste, can be eaten raw or cooked, with young tubers being preferable, although the inner part of older tubers remains tasty.

Other uses: The sturdy, desiccated leaves are twisted into twine for crafting footwear. These plants create an expansive cluster and work well as a low-lying vegetation when planted with a 90 cm gap in all directions. It is recommended to leave the withered leaves on the soil in winter for optimal coverage. The variety 'Kwanso Flore Pleno' was notably acknowledged.

Growing

Thrives in most soils, including dry soils, although it prefers rich, moist soil and tolerates a sunny position, but also tolerates partial shade. Plants flower less freely in a shady location, although flowers may last longer in such a location. Grows well in heavy clay soils and prefers a pH between 6 and 7. This species is hardy to about -20°C. Plants take one to two years to establish after transplanting. The roots have spindle-shaped swellings and spread freely; the plant can become invasive. A highly ornamental plant, cultivated in China and Japan for its edible flowers and leaves. There are many named cultivars. Individual flowers are short-lived, opening in the morning and withering in the evening. However, the plant produces a succession of flowers over a period of about 6 weeks. The sterile cultivar 'Kwanzo' has double flowers that are said to be crisp with a nutty aftertaste. 'Flore Pleno' is another form with double flowers that have a delicious flavor. The sterile variety 'Europa' is very vigorous, with long runners, and each root piece can develop into a new plant. This variety, usually supplied by nurseries, thrives in lawns and has even been known to grow through asphalt. It crosses freely with other members of this genus. Many forms of this plant are sterile triploids, probably of garden origin, and do not set seeds. However, the pollen is fertile and can be used to pollinate other plants. The plants are very susceptible to damage from slugs and snails, with young growth in spring being particularly vulnerable.

Propagation

Sow seeds in a greenhouse during spring for quick and successful germination. Transfer seedlings to separate pots once they have grown enough. Keep the plants in the greenhouse for the initial winter and then move them outdoors in late spring. Divide plants either in spring or after they have flowered in late summer or autumn. The division process is simple and fast and can be carried out at almost any time. Larger clumps can be directly planted in their permanent spot, while smaller clumps are best repotted and nurtured in a cold frame until they establish strong roots. Plant them outdoors in spring.

Notable

Special features: There are various species and numerous varieties; Flowering diminishes over time (~10 years) and necessitates relocation; Each flower typically blooms for just a day; Commonly utilized in Chinese cuisine; Easily spreads; Propagated by dividing the rhizome at any time.

Origin & habitat

Origin unknown. An escapee from a garden in Great Britain.

A natural hybrid, M. aquatica x M. spicata, discovered in damp soils along ditches and roadsides in southern regions.

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