edible lilies
James Waddick (Fri, 17 Jun 2005 09:08:32 PDT)

Dear Tsuh Yang;
I think most all true Lilium have edible bulbs. If you Google
'edible lilium' you'll get hits on L. lancifolium, but I don't think
I'd recommend this. In Gansu they favor L. davidii and if you look in
McCrae's or Haw's books on lilies they repeats this. A lot of species
of true lily are eaten, but not all are equal. I suspect even in
Gansu they are commercially grown and may represent a specific cv
grown for size, taste, productivity etc.

I think they should be available in oriental Mkts elsewhere
if they made it to Kansas City. Lily scales are also prepared and
dried, then sold in bags.

My plants have been in a gallon pot and 'bonsai'ed" (Pen
Jing'ed?)so are way smaller than they should be.

Edible Daylily (Hemerocallis) flowers are restricted to a few
tastiest, commercial cvs. I think that some Lilium Flowers are edible
too, but recall something about Lilum Pollen being poisonous?

Eater beware.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +