Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Day lily is a flowering, herbaceous plant. Arising from a bulbous clump are blade-shaped leaves and a solitary tawny-orange flower. The showy flowers are open for one day only, hence the common name. The botanical name comes from the Greek words hemera, meaning day, and kallos, meaning beauty; this beauty lasts only one day. Aurantiaca describes the color, tawny orange. Summer and Autumn are the main flowering seasons. The common name is misleading, as this plant is not a lily.

Native to China and Japan, the day lily thrives in Hawaii. The daylily is not prone to pests. A low-maintenance plant, it is drought tolerant and tolerant of poor soil. For vigorous growth, separate the clumping bulbs every few years. This species will naturalize in the garden.

Plant Uses:

• Edible
• Erosion control
• Ornamental

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers