Note from the Author: I previously covered Daylilies on March 17th 2023
Tawny Daylily 
'Gentle Shepherd' Daylilies in the afternoon sun. 
An unknown Hybrid Daylily created by Rodger Mercer. 
'Gentle Shepherd' Daylilies in morning light.
Common Name: Daylily
Other Common Names: Day lily.
Botanical Family: Asphodelaceae (The Day Lily Family)
Botanical Latin Name: Hemerocallis species
Description & Habitat: Dayliles are generally found in one of their hybrid forms in the urban landscape. Typically they will be a clump-forming herbaceous perennial which can produce flower stalks that are up to 2.5 feet tall in some species. Daylilies are native to Asia and parts of Europe and have become naturalized in North America. Daylilies are not a true lily and their genus name comes from the Greek words Hemera meaning day and Kallos meaning beauty. Speaking strictly in terms of Hybrid varieties Daylilies have leaves that clasp the central stem and are roughly lanceolate in shape with no discernable petiole. The foliage on hybrid Daylilies is almost always plain green and the leaves will be long enough to bend in the middle forming an arch. Flowers are borne on stalks above the foliage and depending on the specific hybrid’s traits there will a variable number of flowers per stalk but in general the individual flowers only last a day. Daylilies can be found in the urban landscape most plentifully along the roadside of the Interstate where they have been planted by the hundreds to help with erosion and for beautification purposes.
Special Toxicity Note: Unfortunately the entirety of the Daylily is toxic to Cats. This means the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase full of Daylilies poses a threat. A small amount can cause fatal kidney failure in Cats and this will manifest in less than three days. The toxin itself has not been specifically isolated but if you see the known signs of lily poisoning in your Cat get them to a veterinarian immediately. Symptoms include drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite in the first 12 hours or so. After this your Cat will display signs of kidney damage and will urinate more frequently and will suffer dehydration as a result. Kidney Failure follows within a day or three. Only early treatment at the first sign of illness can prevent permanent damage to your pet.
When & What to Harvest: Young leaves and shoots, unopened flower buds and Opened flowers and the tubers.
Edible Related Plants: Tawny Daylily (H. fulva).
Similar Dangerous Species: There are a lot of plants called ‘lily’ such as Canna Lilies (Canna), Toad Lilies (Tricyrtis), Water lilies (Nymphaea) and Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia).
Recipe: Sautéed Daylily
Ingredients:
2 Cups of unopened Daylily buds
1 Tablespoon salted butter
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Half of a red onion
Harlem Garlic Pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Wash and dry daylily buds.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in skillet and sauté onion until lightly caramelized.
3. Add daylily buds and sauté until softened.
4. Season with Harlem Garlic Pepper and serve with rice.
Additional Information: (If applicable)
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hemerocallis/
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282203
Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:
-Numerous garden centers, nurseries, botanical gardens and order-by-mail/internet vendors sell daylilies of all shapes sizes and colors.
With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog. In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.
For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the Plant Sale at Smith Recreation Center on Slater.
Summer Vegetables:
Okra, Baby Bubba
Okra, Iraqi Bamia
Pepper, Ghost
Pepper, Serrano
Pepper, Hungarian Wax Banana
Pepper, Bull’s Horn
Pepper, Mad Hatter
Pepper, Purple Bell
Potato, Adirondak (Purple skin with blue-purple flesh)
Spinach, Egyptian
Tomato, Cherokee Purple
Tomato, Chocolate Cherry
Tomato, Brown Sugar
West African Njama Nightshade Greens
Herbs:
Basil, Holy
Chives
Flowers:
Balsam Impatiens
Batchelor’s Button ‘Blue Boy’
Batchelor’s Button ‘Black Boy’
Plants Coming Soon:
Green-Fruit Nightshade Greens
Gbognome Nightshade Greens
Rainbow Quinoa
How to stay in Contact with Us!
All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.
Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville
Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:
The Videos: Look Here
>Newest videos (1): Perennial Ground Cherry
Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is June 14th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
