Orange Daylily Identification – Hemerocallis fulva

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This post is part of our “100 Plants and Mushrooms” series. Here, you’ll see the plant’s main parts – its leaves, flowers, fruits, and more – all with key identification features.

The Orange Daylily goes by its scientific name, Hemerocallis fulva. Breaking this name down: “Hemerocallis” comes from two Greek words meaning “day” and “beauty”. This gives a clue to one of its most interesting features: its flowers last for just a single day. The term “fulva” describes the flower’s striking reddish-yellow color.

Orange Daylily: Key Parts in Photos

How to identify Orange Daylily

The Orange Daylily isn’t too picky about where it grows. It loves sunlight but can also tolerate some shade. So, if you’re out and about, you might spot it in fields or by the side of roads and streams, especially in the Eastern US and parts of the Midwest, where it’s frequently found.

Standing at a height up to 5 feet, this plant is pretty hard to miss when in full bloom. The flower is its most captivating feature. Each flower, part of a larger cluster called a panicle, is about 3 inches across. They consist of 3 petals and 3 sepals, which are petal-like structures. These are typically orange with red streaks and have a yellowish hue towards the base. The flower has 6 long stamens and a straight style, sticking out from its center.

The leaves are long, almost sword-like, and can be up to 3 feet in length. They gather around the base of the plant and tend to flop over. The stem that holds the flower stands tall and strong, but doesn’t have many leaves on it.

Want to learn more?

Our new book, “A New Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods,” is available on Amazon. It helps beginners learn about how to identify and cook with these 100 common plants and mushrooms. Click the buy button on the right and order your copy now!

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