Orange Daylily

(Hemerocallis fulva)

Other Names:
Tigerlily, swamplily, orange lily

Range:


Family:
Liliaceae – Lily family
(There is some confusion and contention concerning the classification of this plant. I have read some articles that place this plant in the Asphodelaceae - asparagus family. For the purposes of this page, I will leave the familial classification as Liliaceae.)

Growth Type:
An Herbaceous Perennial

Height:
Up to 3ft tall

Leaves:
The leaves are basal, light green, sword-like, and several feet long. As the summer progresses, they will bend to the ground under their own weight.

Stem/Trunk:
Flower stalk is leafless and grows up to 3ft tall

Root:
Attached to the shoots base by tube-like rhizomes will be potato like tubers with tiny hair like roots. The rhizomes will be approximately ¼" thick. Stay away from any plants with a single rhizome, or bulb, and no tubers, as these are most likely the poisonous lilies, irises, or daffodils.

Flower Season:
Plant flowers Summer through Autumn

Flower Appearance:
Each plant will bear up to 15 short stemmed funnel like orange flowers on 3ft tall leafless flower stalks. Each flower blooms for just a single day, and consist of 3 reflexed petals, and 3 nearly identical reflexed sepals. They are approximately 4in long, and have 6 stamens around 1 pistil.

Seed/Fruit:
N/A

Miscellaneous characteristics:
Stay away from any plants with a single rhizome, or bulb, and no tubers, as these are most likely the poisonous lilies, irises, or daffodils.

Habitat:
They grow in meadows, ditches, along roadsides, along streams, in gardens, abandoned homesteads, waste areas, open woodlands, and disturbed areas throughout eastern North America.

Parts Used:
Young Shoots, Flower-buds, Flower, Tubers

Culinary Uses:
A little known but excellent food source. Add the early shoots to salads or prepare like asparagus, Prepare the young flower-buds like green beans, or when older, like fritters. Dip the fresh flowers in batter and fry to make an excellent fritter. The flowers can also be added fresh, withered, or dried to season stews and soups. Add the crisp snow white tubers to salads, or prepare like corn. The older, but still firm tubers can be prepared like corn.

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.

Medicinal Uses:
In China root tea is used as a diuretic, and to treat difficulty urinating, jaundice, nosebleeds, leukorrhea, and uterine bleeding. It has also been used to treat mastitis. It is also a folk cure for breast cancer, and a variety of other ailments. the edible flowerbuds are used for their astringent properties to relieve oppression and heat in the chest. And as a poultice for piles.

Medicinal Actions:
Astringent, Diuretic, Haemostatic