Daylily from Xiushan

Daylily from Xiushan

Daylily from Xiushan is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　　　Daylily, a perennial herbaceous plant of the Hemerocallis genus in the Liliaceae family, produces plump and tender flower buds. It has a long history of cultivation in China. Commonly known among the people as Hemerocallis, “Forget-Worry Flower,” or Golden Needle Vegetable, daylily is a floral food with high value for beauty, medicine, and nutrition. It can "calm the mind and relieve worries." Hence, it is called the “Forget-Worry Flower.”

　　Legend

　　　　There was once a woman whose husband went off to war. She planted daylilies in the northern hall of her home to ease her sorrow and forget her worries. Since then, people have called the daylily the “Forget-Worry Flower.”

　　Development History and Current Status of Xiushan Daylily

　　　　Daylily has been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years. Records of daylily cultivation in Xiushan date back to the Yuan Dynasty, giving it a history of more than 600 years. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the county annals listed Xiushan daylily as one of the area’s main local specialties. Currently, the total planting area of daylily in the county reaches 13,800 mu. Drying equipment has been acquired for initial processing, and after packaging, the product is sold externally. The Xiushan daylily industry chain is gradually taking shape.

　　Quality Profile

　　　　Xiushan daylily mainly consists of the local variety “April Flower,” which boasts high yield, excellent quality, and strong disease resistance—it is considered one of the finest varieties in the country. Analysis shows that every 100 grams of Xiushan daylily contains 14.1 grams of protein, 1.1 grams of fat, 62.6 grams of carbohydrates, 463 milligrams of calcium, 173 milligrams of phosphorus, and various vitamins. It is particularly rich in carotene, with dry product content reaching 3.44 milligrams per 100 grams. Owing to its extremely high nutritional value, Xiushan daylily has received widespread acclaim.

　　Brand Development

　　　　In October 1958, Xiushan daylily was awarded second place in the national high-quality agricultural products category at the Canton Fair. In 1976, it ranked first in the national daylily quality competition. In 1978, it took first place in the Sichuan Provincial Daylily Quality Competition. In January 2002, at the Chongqing First Contract Agriculture and High-Quality Agricultural Products Exhibition and Sales Fair, it was highly popular with consumers, selling out quickly.