Hemerocallis minor, also known as dwarf daylily, grassleaf lily, and small daylily, is a plant in the family Asphodelaceae, native to Siberia, Mongolia, China, and Korea. Despite their common name, daylilies are not true lilies (plants of the genus Lilium, family Liliaceae). Although the flowers of Hemerocallis and Lilium species have a similar shape, their growth habits, stems, and leaf shapes are distinctive. The genus name Hemerocallis derives from the Ancient Greek hemera (“day”) and kalos (“beautiful”), reflecting the fact that the flower typically blooms for only one day, usually opening around sunrise. The flowers are used in Chinese cuisine. In traditional medicine, the species is used to treat acute gastroenteritis, burns, parasitic diseases, and liver disease. Additionally, daylilies are among the most popular garden plants in North America.
