Hemerocallis darrowiana — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Flowers, Leaves, Root

Leaves and young shoots are edible when cooked, but must be harvested while very young before they become fibrous. Flowers and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked; each flowering stem bears two trumpet-shaped blossoms, each approximately 6cm long and 6cm in diameter. The buds contain approximately 43mg of vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU of vitamin A, and 3.1% protein. If this species produces swollen roots, they can also be eaten raw or cooked.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

Asia, Japan,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A compact hardy perennial reaching only 0.1 m in height with no frost sensitivity. Hermaphroditic flowers are insect-pollinated. Establishes across light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to basic pH. Grows in semi-shade to full sun and tolerates both dry and moist soil conditions.

How to Grow

Succeeds in most soils, including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil. 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. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7. This species has not been grown in Europe but, coming from the island of Sakhalin in N. Japan, it should prove to be hardy in most parts of Britain. Individual flowers only live for one day. The plant produces short scapes with only two flowers on a scape. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. 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.

Propagation: Sow seed in mid-spring in a greenhouse; germination is usually fairly rapid and reliable. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter under glass, and plant out in late spring. Divide plants in spring or after flowering in late summer or autumn. Division is straightforward and can succeed at almost any time of year. Larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions; smaller clumps are best potted and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted before planting out in spring.

Medicinal Uses

The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning. A tea made from boiled roots is used as a diuretic.

Other Uses

The tough dried foliage can be plaited into cord and used for making footwear.

Wikipedia

A compact hardy perennial reaching only 0.1 m in height with no frost sensitivity. Hermaphroditic flowers are insect-pollinated. Establishes across light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to basic pH. Grows in semi-shade to full sun and tolerates both dry and moist soil conditions.