HEMEROCALLIS (aka-'Daylily') are NOT true Lilies, even though their trumpet-like flowers resemble Lilies. True Lilies, of the genus LILLIUM, grow from onion-like bulbs, while HEMEROCALLIS grow from a mass of fleshy roots that hold moisture and nutrients. Also, unlike true Lilies, HEMEROCALLIS flowers are edible and can be consumed raw or cooked.

They originated in China and Korea and were introduced to North America by Europeans during the colonial period. Daylily roots can survive out of the ground for weeks. This makes 'Daylilies' the hardy travelers that arrived here with the colonists' ships and spread across the United States in pioneer's wagon trains...they now grow wild in many places in the US.