Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus – A Guide to Northern Daylilies

The Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, often referred to as the Northern Daylily, is a plant within the Amaryllidaceae family and belongs to the genus Hemerocallis. Its roots vary considerably in size, typically being somewhat fleshy, slightly rope-like, and measuring between 2 to 4 millimeters in thickness.

The leaves range from 20-70 centimeters in length and 3-12 millimeters in width.

The flower stalk is either longer or slightly shorter than the leaves. Its bracts are lanceolate, with those at the base of the flower cluster reaching 3-6 centimeters in length. The flower stems are conspicuous, varying in length.

The flowers exhibit a soft yellow hue, with the floral tube usually measuring between 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters, never exceeding 3 centimeters, and the floral segments being 5-7 centimeters long.

Morphological Features

The root sizes of the Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus can vary significantly, but they generally have a somewhat fleshy texture, are slightly rope-like, and measure between 2 to 4 millimeters thick. The leaves range between 20-70 centimeters in length and 3-12 millimeters in width.

The flower stalk can either be longer or slightly shorter than the leaves. The floral arrangement is branched, typically forming a corymbose or conical cluster with 4 or more blossoms.

The lanceolate bracts at the base of the floral arrangement can reach 3-6 centimeters, while those higher up measure between 0.5-3 centimeters in length and 3-5 (or up to 7) millimeters in width. The flower stems stand out and have varied lengths, typically ranging from 1-2 centimeters.

The floral envelope is a pale yellow shade, with the floral tube generally spanning 1.5-2.5 centimeters and never surpassing 3 centimeters. The floral segments are 5-7 centimeters long, with the inner three segments being approximately 1.5 centimeters wide.

The capsule fruit is oval-shaped, about 2 centimeters long, and around 1.5 centimeters or wider. The flowering and fruiting period is from June to September.

Differences from Related Species

This species closely resembles the common daylily, but it can be distinguished by its shorter floral tube, which typically measures 1-2.5 centimeters and rarely approaches 3 centimeters. In contrast, the common daylily’s floral tube can reach 3-5 centimeters.

Furthermore, the latter species displays a lighter flower color and generally possesses fleshy roots that bulge spindle-shaped in the middle to lower sections.

According to records from Hsiu-Ying Hu, the Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus blooms last between 24-63 hours, while the common daylily’s last less than 24 hours. This observation requires further examination.

Place of Origin and Habitat

The Yellow Daylily, scientifically known as Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, thrives in meadows, wetlands, barren hill slopes, and under shrubs at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2,300 meters. It is widely distributed across China and can also be found in Russia and Europe.

Propagation Methods

The Yellow Daylily is primarily propagated through division and seed sowing. When cultivating, it’s advisable to choose suitable habitats, such as forest clearings, forest edges, and barren hill slopes. Its care and maintenance are relatively straightforward and undemanding.

Division

Division is one of the common asexual propagation methods for the Yellow Daylily. Ideal plants for division are those that are robust and compact in growth, free from pests and diseases, and exhibit excellent quality traits.

The flowers should have large and numerous buds, with thick petals that are aesthetically pleasing or of good edible quality. The leaves should be short, thick, and of a darker hue.

Seed Sowing

Seed Collection: Seeds of the Yellow Daylily can be sown in both spring and fall. It’s crucial to collect seeds from plants that are robust, disease-free, and of superior quality.

Land Preparation: Outdoor seed sowing is a primary method for obtaining numerous Yellow Daylily seedlings. Choose sandy loam soil rich in organic matter with good drainage. The bed should ideally be 15-20 cm in height, 112-115 cm in width, and 10-30 cm in length.

During bed preparation, incorporate well-decomposed organic manure, approximately 1200-1300 kg per acre.

Seed Treatment: For autumn sowing, seeds can be directly sown outdoors in late September and will germinate the following spring.

For spring sowing, seeds collected the previous autumn should be soaked in warm water for 2 hours, then disinfected in a 0.13-0.15% potassium permanganate solution for about 2 hours.

Afterward, rinse the seeds in clean water for about an hour, drain, and mix with clean fine river sand at a ratio of 1 (seed) to 6-8 (sand).

During the sand storage period, frequently turn the mixture and maintain a temperature of about 20-25°C. Once the seeds start to sprout, typically in 10-15 days, they are ready for sowing.

Sowing Method: For raised bed cultivation of the Yellow Daylily, furrow sowing is often used. Create furrows about 2-3 cm deep at intervals of about 10 cm. Sow the seeds at spacings of 3-5 cm within the furrows. Cover with sterilized fine soil, top with a thin layer of fine sand, and press down lightly.

Seedling Management

Fertilizing: Once the seedlings develop 2-3 leaves, lightly apply nitrogen fertilizer, such as 5-7 kg of urea per acre. Before the autumn leaves wither, spray 1-2 times with a 0.15% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.

Weeding and Soil Loosening: Loosen the soil when the surface begins to dry. It’s essential to weed early and target small weeds.

Cultivation Techniques

Soil Preparation

The Golden Needle Daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus) can be planted during both spring and fall. When preparing the planting bed, integrate approximately 1000-1200 kilograms of mature organic fertilizer per acre as a base fertilizer.

Beds should typically be 10-15 centimeters high, 120 centimeters wide, and 20-30 meters long. The planting distance between each plant should be about 25 centimeters x 25 centimeters, with approximately 7000 plants per acre.

Planting

For vegetable production of the Golden Needle Daylily, it’s often transplanted using seedlings that are a year old, typically using ridge planting (though bed planting can also be utilized).

Before planting, combine soil preparation with an application of about 1500-1800 kilograms of mature organic fertilizer per acre as a base fertilizer. Grading and planting the seedlings is one of the critical measures to achieve higher yields per area.

Care

Watering: In the spring, after budding, if the soil lacks moisture, it can affect the number of flowers. Therefore, it’s beneficial to water the soil timely in early spring and after fertilizing, ensuring the soil remains moist.

Before the ground freezes in the fall, water the plants as this will allow them to green up earlier the following year, promoting earlier flowering and larger buds. For best results, water thoroughly and evenly, preferably in the morning or evening.

Weeding: After planting the Golden Needle Daylily, it’s essential to weed and till the soil timely. Early weeding should be shallow, with deeper tilling as the plants grow. Weed and till when the soil moisture is moderate.

Once the leaves cover the ground, you can stop. While traditional hand weeding is an option, suitable herbicides can also be used. If opting for herbicides, strictly follow the product’s instructions or use under expert guidance.

Fertilizing: The Golden Needle Daylily typically needs fertilization starting the second year after planting. It’s best to fertilize three times a year: First, when new shoots are about 10 centimeters tall, mainly using nitrogen fertilizer combined with phosphorus and potassium to promote robust growth and branching of flower stems.

The second fertilization, when flower stems appear, should primarily include phosphorus and potassium, promoting larger flowers.

The third application, within ten days after flowering, should combine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to replenish nutrients the plant loses during extensive flowering, ensuring rapid recovery and normal growth.

Maintenance: When cultivating the Golden Needle Daylily, it’s crucial to control the number of flowers. It’s often necessary to timely prune wilted flowers, spent flower stems, and dead leaves to promote growth, branching, and prevent potential disease or pest infestation.

For vegetable cultivation, after harvesting the flower buds, cut off the flower stems and older leaves, then apply fertilizer to encourage lush autumn growth, increased root development, and flower bud differentiation, enhancing the yield of flower buds the following year.

Primary Uses

Medicinal

Used Parts: Roots and rhizomes. Medical Applications: It has properties for cooling the blood, stopping bleeding, promoting urination, and reducing heat. It can treat gland inflammation, jaundice, cystitis, hematuria, edema, urinary issues, milk insufficiency, menstrual irregularities, nosebleeds, and bloody stools. Externally, it can be applied for mastitis.

Other

The flowers can be eaten as a wild vegetable and are also used as ornamental plants.