Hemerocallis dumortieri

Hemerocallis dumortieri is a species of plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is native to Korea and possibly parts of China, and has been introduced into Japan. Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta is native to Hokkaidō.

Description

A herb. It is a plant which keeps growing from year to year. It loses its leaves during the winter. The roots are slightly fleshy with swollen tubers near the tip. It grows 45-60 cm high and spreads 40-50 cm wide. The leaves are in a clump and are stiff and narrow. They are 40-45 cm long by 1.502 cm wide. The flowering stems rise up and arch over. The flowers are small and open in the morning and close the next morning. The flowers are rich yellow and starry. They are reddish-brown in bud. The fruit is a capsule and is almost round.

Edible Uses

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 — they are crisp and juicy with a pleasant sweetness and no unpleasant aftertaste. The flowers can also be dried and used as a thickener in soups and similar dishes. The buds contain approximately 43mg of vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU of vitamin A, and 3.1% protein. The root can also be eaten raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The fresh flower buds can be fried. They can also be dried and used in soups. Young shoots are also edible.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

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.

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.)

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Siberia, Slovenia,

Cultivation

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 is hardy to about -20°c. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Individual flowers only live for one day. The flowers are sweetly scented. Plants form a tight clump that spreads slowly. The roots are cylindrical. 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.

Other Uses

The tough dried foliage can be plaited into cord and used for making footwear. Plants form a slowly spreading clump and are suitable for ground cover when spaced approximately 45cm apart in each direction; dead leaves should be left on the ground over winter to ensure effective coverage. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, attracting pollinators including bees and butterflies. The flowers and young buds may also be consumed by wildlife, while the dense foliage provides some shelter for small animals. The leaf litter and ground cover can offer overwintering habitat for beneficial insects.

Notes

There are about 15 Hemerocallis species. Also put in the family Hemerocallidaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Hime-kanzo, Japonska maslenica, Xian xuan cao, Yehuanghua

References (10)

• Chen Xinqi, Liang Songyun, Xu Jiemei, Tamura M.N., Liliaceae. Flora of China. p 92
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 692
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 143
• Hort. Belge 2:195, t. 43. 1834
• Hwang, H., et al, 2013, A Study on the Flora of 15 Islands in the Western Sea of Jeollanamdo Province, Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol. 6, No. 2 281-310

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