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Hemerocallis_citrina - Baroni.

Common Name Citron daylily
Family Hemerocallidaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[205]. (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[K].)
Habitats Forest margins, grassy fields and slopes along valleys from near sea level to 2000 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - China.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Hemerocallis_citrina Citron daylily


biolib.de
Hemerocallis_citrina Citron daylily
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pryma

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Hemerocallis_citrina is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.8 m (2ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

H. baroni.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked[205]. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[K]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[105, 177]. The flowers can be dried and used as a thickener in soups etc. The slender trumpets vary from 12 - 17cm long[205]. There can be from 7 to 65 buds on a flowering stem[205]. The flower buds contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[205]. Root - raw or cooked[205]. The flavour is somewhat radish-like but not so sharp[205].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The juice of the roots is an effective antidote in cases of arsenic poisoning[205]. A tea made from the boiled roots is used as a diuretic[205].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The tough dried foliage is plaited into cord and used for making footwear[205].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils[1], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil[200]. 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[205]. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. Widely cultivated in China for its edible flowers, especially in Hunan province[266]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. This species is said to be self-incompatible[127, 205]. Many of the plants in cultivation under this name are H. thunbergii[205]. The sub-species H. citrina vespertina (Hara.)Erhardt. is a very free-flowering form, producing up to 75 buds per scape and capable of flowering from July to October if the weather is suitable[205]. The plant forms a loose spreading clump[K]. The roots form pseudobulbs[205]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[1]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[200]. Individual flowers are very short-lived, they open in the late afternoon and die in the morning[200]. However, plants produce a succession of flowers for several weeks of the summer. The number of flowers on a scape varies from 7 to 65[205]. The flowers have a lemony scent[205]. Another report says that they have a pronounced honeysuckle scent[245].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow in the middle of spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid and good. Prick out 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[K]. Division in spring or after flowering in late summer or autumn[200]. Division is very quick and easy, succeeding at almost any time of the year[K]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Hemerocallis citrinaCitron daylilyPerennial0.8 4-8  LMHSNDM412

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Baroni.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Juerg Plodeck   Tue Oct 26 22:36:18 1999

What I missed in your article is that the H. citrina is the normally used plant in China for eating its flowers. The flowers will be harvested shortly before they open (they open in the evening and flower in the night). The flowers of H. citrina smell a little bit a citron, that is the reason why it got that name. I believe if you could taste that flower you would be even more enthusiastic about that flower than about all the others of the Hemerocallis species.

   Tue Jun 27 01:46:20 2000

Hemerocallis are not hallucinogenic! That is a mistaken idea. But eating too many leaves may cause loose bowels.When I was the horticulturist for Daylily Discounters, our yearly garden tour would feature fresh buds dipped in batter and fried with a dip of tomatoe chutney. Sincerely, Douglas Glick Horticulturist

Zhang Zhixiang   Fri Feb 4 13:56:08 2005

The flowers and flower buds can not eaten in fresh. It must be treated in boiling water shortly. If man eat it in fresh, he maight be poisoning. After that, it can be sautee with egges.

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