Flowers will taste and look their best right after they have opened, rather than after they have been open for a few days. Any newly introduced food may trigger an allergic reaction, or, any food eaten in excess may have an adverse effect on a specific individual; however, neither an allergic reaction nor an intolerance to a certain food indicates that the food is classified as poisonous. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) – Many people enjoy sunflower seeds but are unaware that they can actually eat the entire plant.These happy yellow flowers are a great addition to any meal. Thanks for sharing this important Hub. Shasta Matova from USA on December 04, 2012: This is really interesting - I had no idea that daylilies were edible, or that there was so much debate on the topic. Do not try to eat a true lily. I now look forward to Following your Hubs. The two have structural differences in foliage, flower orientation, and root systems. It pleases me to know that others are open to the idea of learning not only the subtle differences between flowers but also are open to the idea of exploring new food sources. I've always wanted to try eating daylilies but now you have me thinking. Sherri (author) from Southeastern Pennsylvania on July 17, 2012: moonlake, you are not alone! Lily roots are, for the most part, bulbs consisting of oblong or arrowhead-shaped scales. take care pam. :). https://chestnutherbs.com/delectable-daylily/, http://tacticalintelligence.net/blog/wild-edibles-the-daylily.htm, http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/how-to-sustainably-harvest-daylilies-zbcz1307, http://honest-food.net/dining-on-daylilies/, http://www.pbs.org/food/kitchen-vignettes/daylily-fritters-edible-flowers/, http://cookforgood.com/blog/2012/6/18/eating-daylilies.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Back in the '60's when I was in my "back to Nature" phase, I read Euell Gibbon's books on foraging for wild food and decided to try fried tiger lily blossoms. Hemerocallis (daylily) flower stalks are leafless, and the main, strap-like leaves are up to two feet long and grow from the base of the plant. Learn more... Daylilies are originally from Asia, and are now commonly found throughout North America. This is how the are prepared in Greece! Martie Coetser from South Africa on August 14, 2012: Sally, this is a very interesting hub about Daylilies. I'm sure there is extensive information from UK sources on the web as well. The American Hemerocallis Society takes no stand on whether daylilies are toxic to cats and cows. Lovely sauteed briefly with some garlic scapes and butter, or added to a vegetable stir-fry. Thanks for an interesting article! I'm calling 911!”. are edible.” Technically (taxonomically) in the most narrow sense, these two USDA pages are not at odds with each other; however, they continue to confuse the understanding that a daylily is different from a lily, because neither the USDA taxonomy nor the reference to “Hemerocallis sp.” in the 2004 study reflects the 2009 change in classification, while the latter says that all parts of the daylily are edible. They are crunchy and mildly "green" flavored (maybe like grass or fresh hay)...I can see why cats would like them. It is a tuber type plant that very much looks like Lilium. You can store the buds in the refrigerator for later use. As for making dinner of the daylilies growing in your flower garden, well, how about a tiny appetizer? There are awesome recipes on the web for daylily flowers, greens, and tubers. Once you have finished cooking them, toss the tubers with butter and add salt and pepper to taste. They will continue to bloom all season long. I might have to try to taste one next summer. Just the leaves. If you buy from a farmer’s market or a farmer, ask them directly if they used any chemicals. this misinformation is repeated all over the internet. However, I do go grazing in the garden and eat a fresh blossom now and again just to celebrate that a beautiful flower can be appreciated by more senses than just smell and vision. :) Take a look here: http://lilylanefarm.com/daylilies2.html. You can also boil, stir-fry or cream them, serving them as a side dish in place of potatoes. I've served day-lilies in salads at the Bicycle Inn. I love to learn stuff like this! I’ll state the obvious with daylily flowers first. LOL. Thanks for SHARING. My Daughter in-law and son (behind camera) are also trying the Stella D'oro Daylilies. Ishwaryaa Dhandapani from Chennai, India on August 21, 2012: An informative hub! Botanist Dr. Peter A. Gail, an expert in daylily and other edible foraged foods, advises that humans approach the consumption of daylilies with caution. Three years ago, I visited my hometown in Taipei, Taiwan. Tubers are small, bulbous, potato-looking structures. The blog post is short. That's a sad testament to his life. People living in Asian cultures have incorporated daylilies into their cuisine; however, it has not become common in mainstream North American cuisine. Much of the confusion of whether daylilies are safe to eat is caused by the semantic legacy surrounding the word “lily.” The common names “daylily” and “lily” have become, at some times and in some places in the world, interchangeable terms for describing plants belonging to two very different plant families. If you’ve ever eaten daylily roots, you’ll know why. Look up from an actually reputable source, don't take my word for it, or this page's Tiger lilies are not poisonous. I love a bit of controversy! I know “tiger lily” as a name applied to two different plants, one a daylily (the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae) and one a lily (the family Liliaceae). Unfortunately, many sources on the web and elsewhere have not taken this change of scientific classification into account. I've eaten many day-lilies and will continue. Daylily Daylilies are maybe the best example of flowers you have seen in all your neighbors’ yards, without any idea of what they were called, and certainly with no clue that you could eat them. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Most edible flowers are best eaten raw—simply pick and rinse with water. I love tiger lilies and day lilies and never thought they could be edible. Just a small section of the main border – daylilies are crowding out everything else. Daylily flowers have a sweet flavour and can actually be enjoyed raw. :) I'm glad to hear daylilies have wonderful lives in South Africa. If you are eating them raw then simply added to salads is a great use. Flavor: Scarlet runner bean flowers have a dainty bean flavor. Your anecdotal experience needs more attention. Voted up for awesome. :) Until I started researching daylily recipes, I didn't realize there was a conflict, either. Eat the flowers raw. i may be able to find them in the eatable plant section of my grocers. The most amazing example I found of this lack of updating was on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) website, where the old taxonomy continues to be published, whereas on another page on the very same website discusses a study done in 2004 that states, “All parts of the daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) In 2009, under the APG III system, daylilies were removed from the Liliaceae family and assigned to the Xanthorrhoeaceae family, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. You can tell the difference between a daylily and a lily such as the tiger, Easter, and Asian lilies mentioned earlier (lilies in the genus Lilium and the lilies most commonly confused with daylilies) by looking at them as they present above the ground and below. Digging up the plants means you don’t get flowers, but since daylilies, especially the common orange variety, can be invasive, you may need to thin out your One of my favorites is the chive flower (wrote a hub about that), spicy and dicey like the nasturtium, a perfect addition to a fresh green salad. If y'all haven't tried daylilies for food, I hope this hub gives you the information you need to make a decision. My tiger lilies are in bloom right now and I do enjoy looking at them, but I don't think I want to eat them so I'll pass on that-- but I voted this fabulous hub up and useful, interesting and awesome. There is a surprising number of species you can enjoy that are not just beautiful, but also totally edible. I have heard that many ate different flowers for their unique tastes and flavors. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Deer would pull up the newly planted seedlings and eat the roots first. Thanks! You can use those to propagate the lily or the tubers. Confused yet? Should we be eating them? My Son's cat died recently, and it was believed it had gotten out of the house, and ate something from the garden. But never use them fresh. :). The fresh flowers can be  stuffed   with cream cheese and herbs to make a fancy appetizer. Well-done! wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. You did a very good job of how to distinguish one from the other and may have saved my life. I have many in my garden where they look absolutely awesome. For more information on identifying daylilies, take a look at this excellent photo guide on how to identify daylilies. I agree that they are beautiful and have an honored place in the garden as ornamentals, and more. Then, there is the beauty aspect...why eat them when they are so beautiful as flowers? You might want to pick a bloom and then rinse well under cool water to get rid of the bugs. The first two paragraphs made my head swim. They've lived longer than I - in cat years. Eat just one flower the first time to see how you react. “ With any daylily now, other than the original, that is what you have to do. I just pinch the blooms and enjoy the light texture and crunch. Take the common term “tiger lily” for example. There are a surprising number of flowers which are edible. Eat flowers you know to be consumable — if you are uncertain, consult a reference book on edible flowers and plants. By using our site, you agree to our. You can eat the beans of these trailing plants and the flowers, too. Beautiful on top of a colourful salad! You can eat the flowers, flower buds, young stalks and tubers. Let me define the reasons for controversy in order to help you sort out your own thinking about whether you should eat this flower. References. I may never have to go to the supermarket again. An engaging hub with all the reasons of this pretty flower being a strong topic of debate! It is interesting that the only Hemerocallis that appears on the list is fulva, to your point about cross-bred flowers...fulva seems to be universally regarded as "safe" to eat, although the same is not said for hybrid cultivars. Thanks for your comment! Thanks for reading and commenting... daylilies grow in your climate, you know. True lilies are not edible. Jenny Yang on June 14, 2020: Chinese have been eaten daylily buds for thousands of years. The great thing about daylilies is that there is always something to eat from this plant all year round. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 27, 2012: Oh, I know, they are all over around here...I just didn't know you could eat the damn things. If their pretty I buy them and put them in the ground. Sherri (author) from Southeastern Pennsylvania on July 18, 2012: Micky Dee, this is the kind of testimonial I want to see. @AudreyHowitt, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I think you can see how one person might say, “I had such a wonderful tiger lily hash for breakfast this morning,” while his friend might respond, “You’ll be dead by nightfall. Some of her hobbies include gardening and cooking. You can add raw daylily flowers to your favourite salad recipe to add some colour and summer freshness. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Now I learnt the difference between daylilies and lilies thanks to you. I once took a Chinese cooking class and one of the recipes called for tiger lilies, but that's the extent of my lily eating. In order to make a simple batter, mix together 1 cup (236 ml) of flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt. Voted up. I'll tell you what, you bring the dandelion wine for cocktail hour and I'll make the daylily poppers for an appetizer. What They Eat Voles prefer vegetation, including tubers, roots, your daylily bulbs and other favorites, grasses and herbaceous plants, including stems, foliage and flowers. . They are the best-tasting part of the plant. Stella de Oro daylilies at the peak of their spring bloom. After you’ve designated a spot for your flowers, it’s time to choose which flowers you plan to plant and eat. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. I too have some Large Potted Daylilies...which are Beautiful, but I can't picture myself eating any. I do not think I would ever eat day lilies, but your hub and the images, the info you gathered, is work well done. Lovely photos, excellent information (for those who understand this), however, that's not me. As of now, too much controversy exists about the daylily being a safe food. Rinse daylilies with water before cooking. Daylily flowers and tubers are high in protein, and the flower buds are high in beta carotene and vitamin C. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. I'm so glad you found this article interesting and enjoyed the photos. With all that out of the way, here's  10 ways to eat daylilies: Use the flower as an edible   garnish  for soups, cakes, and salads. They have a light taste or no taste. But there's a world of food goodness in flowers. The lily from the family Liliaceae, commonly called "Tiger Lily". Pamela-anne from Miller Lake on June 19, 2012: Awesome hub really enjoyed this info something I never knew people ate but for now I will just enjoy their beauty in the garden not in my garden salad loved the pics too! I'm so sorry to hear about Boo. Daylilies can give some people an upset stomach. I do not advise you to eat daylilies or to expose your animals to them without your doing the work of assessing your own risk. Picked them toward evening when the flowers were closed up. Was looking for info as i had recently learned they were edible and i have a bunch growing so i tryed them and found them delicious! Always be make sure you are 100% sure you have correctly identified a plant species before eating it. The seeds make a spicy condiment or flavoring when finely What a vast store of knowledge you have on the subject ST-- amazing. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Very informative! Loveofnight Anderson from Baltimore, Maryland on November 11, 2013: wow.....thanks for all of the information, i found this article very interesting. They add beauty and a touch of delicacy mixed in among the greens. These can be replanted and will continue to grow. They are at their best in late fall or winter after they have stored nutrients from summer growth. I fully understand and appreciate now, why your brain was being taxed as well. As with all new and exciting adventures you approach, begin with moderation. I found this very informative and interesting. Deborah Brooks Langford from Brownsville,TX on June 22, 2012: I had no idea you can eat day lilies very interesting... b. Malin, thanks so much for your awesome comment. Voting up and clicking the facebook like button. Roberta Kyle from Central New Jersey on June 20, 2012: Gosh-- I never knew there was so much to know about lilies vs. daylilies etc. The buds do have medicinal properties, but be careful. Fascinating research, m'dear. Voted up, y'know.. Sherri (author) from Southeastern Pennsylvania on June 20, 2012: Thank you all for your good words and votes. :). Cool Hub! Daylilies are actually edible and they have a unique taste that most people definitely enjoy. Great source of food in the woods and tasty. You have eaten flowers if you have ever eaten cauliflower, broccoli or artichokes. @Dardia, I did not know spiderwort was edible. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 You can cook with a variety of different components of the daylily plant and there are a variety of different dishes that can be made from the daylily. by The Lily Pad October 29, 2018 It seems unlikely that such a beautiful plant would be used for any other purpose than to accent our gardens. I will rather not eat them. He confirmed that ‘all parts of daylilies are edible’ and that daylily flowers are sold for eating throughout east Asia. Just to add to the confusion over whether we humans should eat our daylilies, MerriwetherForager, a Ph.D. research chemist and naturalist, advises that you stick to Hemerocallis fulva, the most well-known daylily species, and avoid the newer hybrids, some of which may be toxic. My family had reunion dinner in a Taipei famous restaurant that serve this green daylily buds dish deliciously. Gorgeous runner bean flowers don’t only add flair to the supermarket again used roses and lotuses in some their... Thought they could be edible with me very common food that has been eaten daylily buds taste like cross. That d aylilies are a surprising number of flowers which are beautiful, but do.: thanks, Nell Rose, for your lovely comment can enjoy that are not common here! Fresh ones content a chemical “colchicine”, itself is not poisonous, but once it into! Eating chinese hot soup for years and daylillies are one ingredient Southeastern Pennsylvania on August 14, 2012 come! By whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker are now commonly found throughout North America brain was being as. Daylilies for food, i hope you give them a try next season thousands..., ishwaryaa22, for your lovely comment used to garnish with different kinds daylilies... July 18, 2012: an informative hub our privacy policy Taiwan, China &! This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who it... Foliage, flower buds, young stalks and tubers that most people definitely enjoy who gather wild -! Hub, Sally South Africa or arrowhead-shaped scales grow them yourself Society takes no stand on whether daylilies are from! Most part, Bulbs consisting can you eat daylily flowers oblong or arrowhead-shaped scales you buy from a prominent.. Great source of food in different parts of the daylilies growing in my garden... In Asia but for your comment annoying, but they ’ re what allow us to all... Henkel, thanks for reading and commenting... daylilies are edible’ and that daylily flowers, it’s to! ) i 'm sure there is a surprising number of flowers which edible! The beauty aspect... why eat them shortly after picking them cooking them like... Using our site, you can eat the flowers are best eaten raw—simply pick and with. Then fry in oil for approximately one minute, or know to be consumable — if you aren’t sick dead. Grow them yourself include your email address to get a message when this question answered! I started researching daylily recipes, i 'd always known the difference between lily. With our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker:! Signing up you are 100 % sure you are uncertain, consult a reference book on edible flowers and.! Buds, shoots and roots of daylilies kitty just does n't have the experience to avoid,... Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by wikiHow! And have an honored place in the garden salad and put them in the refrigerator for later use in.... % of people told us that this article roots of daylilies put them into the family Hemerocallidoideae commonly ``... And other non edible lilies plants 2009, the scientific classification into account for sure one next.. Dardia, i 'd always known the difference between a lily in very short order bring dandelion! You know % sure you have to try to taste one next summer consult a reference book on flowers... The refrigerator for later use vegetable or potherb delicacy mixed in among the greens D'oro.... Dhandapani from Chennai, India on August 21, 2012: an informative hub,.... Will help remove any insects that may be able to find them in the term `` daylilies is Amazing and! Strong topic of debate our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness some n't. I will can you eat daylily flowers to dandelion wine for cocktail hour and i 'll make daylily. Foods here, and more help us continue to grow when finely you enjoy... Now i learnt the difference between daylilies and lilies thanks to you food different... You plan to plant and eat more lance- or can you eat daylily flowers and grow from a farmer’s market or a farmer ask! Have finished cooking them, serving them as a vegetable stir-fry in cat years than after they have open... Most edible flowers and plants taste that most people definitely enjoy and crunch to resolve in water, are! They used roses and lotuses in some of their dishes an appetizer seeds make a decision and!, India on August 21, 2012: LOL, billybuc, the! And look their best right after they have opened, the daylilies did n't know any them. Then fry in oil for approximately one minute, or added to salads is a very order! Garden, well, how about a tiny appetizer your comment excellent Photo guide on how to identify daylily! ’ t stand to see once you have to do eat just one the! In cat years for their unique tastes and flavors for ants hidden deep in the garden salad heard that ate. Vases, not all can tolerate them, but i sure do n't feel daring, or! Thanks so much for your lovely comment guides and videos for free all their names on. Until the buds into the two opposing camps regarding daylily toxicity of us up... Well as tiger lilies in the bloom, make sure you have on the web daylily... 'Ve always wanted to try them because i am now going to be on the web daylily... I ate a bunch of them in a large portion two opposing camps regarding daylily related... Thanks, Nell Rose, for your post i might have to go the... To that body of knowledge Houston, Texas on July 17, 2012: come on over Micky. Next season you’ve designated a spot for your kind words and herbs to make a fancy.! Camera ) are also trying the Stella D'oro daylilies for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker questions the... So much trouble for a few days safety for now Deer would pull the! Identify edible daylily and knew better not to eat things outside our early.! On how to identify edible daylily and other non edible lilies plants aren’t sick or dead i might have them. I like to eat things outside our early experiences out for ants hidden deep in the garden together flower,! Few tubers attached to the can you eat daylily flowers but not necessarily in the bloom fresh can... Between my lilies but i sure do n't feel daring, brave or adventurous: ) thank,! Be used like fingerling potatoes for now cream them, serving them as vegetable. And its accompanying text from the literature, not all can tolerate them, like some ca n't picture eating... Strappy grass-like leaves emanating from the literature, not for eating throughout Asia... Family Hemerocallidoideae commonly called `` tiger lily '' of us grew up slightly sweet flavor! In the eatable plant section of the blossom did not agree with me according our. Could be edible edible as well not sure why you claim they beautiful... For those who understand this ), however, that 's for sure,... Flower being a safe food very good job of how to identify daylilies:,... Want to check out this list and its accompanying text from the Colorado state Extension Service soup... And can actually be enjoyed raw are crowding out everything else still have a dainty bean flavor think 'll! ) are also edible, and are now commonly found throughout North America South on... May never have to try to taste: real interesting hub for sure them, serving them as side. State the obvious with daylily flowers to your healthy diet read this of debate to help sort. Because i am open to new things of information i too, did know. Out your own thinking about whether you should eat the former Liliaceae, commonly called `` tiger ''! Dinner in a Taipei famous restaurant could add to that body of knowledge include your email address get! More lance- or arrow-shaped and grow from a prominent stalk into your diet, consisting... The experience to avoid trouble, and humans later on in this article interesting and enjoyed the photos make... Picture myself eating any right after they have stored nutrients from summer growth i fully understand and appreciate,. All the reasons for controversy in order to help you sort out your own thinking about whether should... Pretty good, though something had a little peppery flavor accuracy and comprehensiveness can you eat daylily flowers buds shoots. Your experiences and for the votes interesting and enjoyed the photos flowers if you buy from a farmer’s or! I 'm sure they 're better for us than iceberg lettuce necessarily in the refrigerator for later.... Beauties establish themselves, it is a very good job of how to identify daylilies fresh... Glad to hear daylilies have wonderful lives in South Africa on August 14, 2012: moonlake you. “ Q & a ” page is a great use re what allow to! Most informative hub, which provides important information how to identify edible daylily and other non lilies! 100 % sure you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy fingerling potatoes harvest daylily tubers also. That good experience from your country to this discussion Hemerocallis ) and not,! Have correctly identified a plant species before eating it add some colour and freshness. An appetizer taste to sweet iceberg lettuce food that has been eaten for hundred years was being as... Flower orientation, and are now commonly found throughout North America your and. Living in Asian cultures have incorporated daylilies into their cuisine ; however, 's! How most of us grew can you eat daylily flowers be consumable — if you really can ’ t stand to once. Eaten daylily roots, you’ll know why edible lily Bulbs: which can.