Zhenyuan Daylily

Zhenyuan Daylily

　　In Zhenyuan, daylilies are called "golden needle vegetables," likely because they resemble oversized, bright golden needles. The Jin Dynasty imperial censor Zhou Chu once said, "Pregnant women who wear these flowers will give birth to boys, hence the name 'Yinan' (favorable for sons)." Yinan is one of its aliases. Daylilies are also known as hemerocallis, "daughter flowers," and "forget-worry herbs." Yet, whether called flowers or herbs, they have never graced the refined halls of floral elegance. Though praised for their golden hue, they ultimately won fame for their delicious taste and rich nutrition, becoming a staple on banquet tables for guests and family gatherings.

　　 Zhenyuan is renowned for producing high-quality daylilies. They are characterized by long flower buds, bright yellow color, thick flesh, pure and delicious flavor, and high nutritional content. Zhenyuan daylilies have been officially named "Zhenyuan Daylilies" by the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

　　 The fame of Zhenyuan daylilies is also tied to an emperor who tasted them and declared them an imperial delicacy. During the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde era, Xu Li, a native of Zhenyuan, passed the imperial examination and earned the emperor's favor, securing a position in the capital. When he returned home on leave, the emperor told him, "Zhenyuan is a dry and barren land, and its people must be living in hardship. Please convey my regards to them." Xu Li respectfully promised to do so. Upon returning home, he solemnly relayed the emperor's message, and the villagers, gazing toward the capital, were deeply grateful for the emperor's concern. As Xu Li prepared to return to the capital, the simple and honest villagers wanted to send something to express their gratitude. They felt that pork, beef, or mutton were plentiful in the capital, while seafood like squid and sea cucumber was unavailable locally. With Xu Li’s approval, they finally chose three local specialties: small garlic, dried tobacco, and daylilies. Upon arriving in the capital, Xu Li presented these gifts to the imperial kitchen. Emperor Zhengde tasted each item. He found the soup made with stir-fried small garlic fragrant and unforgettable; the dried tobacco had a rich, satisfying flavor; and the dishes made with daylilies were exquisitely flavorful and indescribably delicious, earning high praise. He even shared them with his concubines and attendants. After evaluation by imperial physicians, the daylilies were found to have calming, heat-clearing, and vision-improving properties. The emperor immediately ordered the imperial kitchen to designate daylilies as an imperial delicacy. As a result, Zhenyuan daylilies gained immense prestige, becoming famous nationwide—not only as tributes to the capital but also as bestsellers across the country.

　　 In Zhenyuan, daylilies are called "golden needle vegetables," likely because they resemble oversized, bright golden needles. Yinan is one of its aliases. The Jin Dynasty imperial censor Zhou Chu once said, "Pregnant women who wear these flowers will give birth to boys, hence the name 'Yinan' (favorable for sons)." Daylilies are also known as hemerocallis, "daughter flowers," and "forget-worry herbs." Yet, whether called flowers or herbs, they have never graced the refined halls of floral elegance. Though praised for their golden hue, they ultimately won fame for their delicious taste and rich nutrition, becoming a staple on banquet tables for guests and family gatherings.

　　 The fame of Zhenyuan daylilies is also tied to Emperor Wuzong of Ming, also known as Zhengde, who tasted them and declared them an imperial delicacy. During the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde era, Xu Li, a native of Zhenyuan, passed the imperial examination and earned the emperor's favor, securing a position in the capital. When he returned home on leave, the emperor told him, "Zhenyuan is a dry and barren land, and its people must be living in hardship. Please convey my regards to them." Xu Li respectfully promised to do so. Upon returning home, he solemnly relayed the emperor's message, and the villagers, gazing toward the capital, were deeply grateful for the emperor's concern. As Xu Li prepared to return to the capital, the simple and honest villagers wanted to send something to express their gratitude. They felt that pork, beef, or mutton were plentiful in the capital, while seafood like squid and sea cucumber was unavailable locally. With Xu Li’s approval, they finally chose three local specialties: small garlic, dried tobacco, and daylilies. Upon arriving in the capital, Xu Li presented these gifts to the imperial kitchen. Emperor Zhengde tasted each item. He found the soup made with stir-fried small garlic fragrant and unforgettable; the dried tobacco had a rich, satisfying flavor; and the dishes made with daylilies were exquisitely flavorful and indescribably delicious, earning high praise. He even shared them with his concubines and attendants. After evaluation by imperial physicians, the daylilies were found to have calming, heat-clearing, and vision-improving properties. The emperor immediately ordered the imperial kitchen to designate daylilies as an imperial delicacy. As a result, Zhenyuan daylilies gained immense prestige, becoming famous nationwide—not only as tributes to the capital but also as bestsellers across the country.

　　 Cultivating daylilies is a tradition in Zhenyuan, with a history spanning over two thousand years. Whether in large or small households, in mountainous or plain areas, beside houses or in corners of fields, families grow anywhere from five or six rows to at least half a row, or at minimum, dozens of plants—enough for personal consumption or sharing with relatives and friends. Harvesting daylilies requires precise timing: too early, and they’re underdeveloped and too small; too late, and the petals bloom, making drying impossible. Only buds on the verge of blooming should be picked. Fresh daylilies that bloom before harvesting can’t be dried but remain delicious when cooked or served cold. Historically, villagers grew daylilies primarily for personal use. After the 1960s, state supply and marketing departments began purchasing them, gradually increasing cultivation. Many households relied on daylilies for income, especially women who used the earnings to buy daily necessities like needles and thread, covering a significant portion of household expenses. By the 1970s, daylilies gained international market traction, driving up prices and boosting cultivation enthusiasm. Entering the 1980s with reform and opening-up, cultivation expanded from home surroundings to large-scale fields. In the new century, to accelerate farmers' prosperity, the county government adjusted agricultural structures and leveraged specialty industries. After thorough research, "daylily industry" was designated as one of the three pillars of rural economic development. With enhanced guidance and support, the industry expanded into deep processing. What was once a wild herb transformed into a key livelihood booster. Today, over 70,000 farming households in the county grow daylilies, accounting for over 70% of total households, covering nearly 60,000 acres. The county has been designated a "National Daylily Production Base."

　　 In midsummer, under the blazing sun, daylilies blanket the fields. Rows of needle-like golden stalks exude a rich fragrance. Dragonflies hover, butterflies flutter, cicadas chirp, and birds sing, creating a vibrant rural scene. At dawn, women and girls gently pick the dew-covered blossoms. Soon, men carry or shoulder baskets brimming with fresh daylilies home. Smoke curls from kitchens as families steam the buds for about five to six minutes per batch. After cooling, they sun-dry the buds in courtyards, turning them into shelf-stable strips within two or three days—ready-to-eat premium ingredients. On rainy days, when outdoor drying isn’t possible, kitchen stoves, floors, heated beds, or even door panels serve as makeshift drying spaces. Recently, plastic sheeting has streamlined the process: fresh daylilies are spread evenly on sheets, covered tightly, and sun-dried for two to three hours. Nowadays, daylily income is no longer a trivial sum for women’s sewing needs but a major contributor to household reinvestment. Some families earn over 2,000–3,000 yuan annually from daylilies alone. Zhenyuan’s unique soil, sunlight, rainfall, and temperature create ideal conditions for daylilies. The resulting buds are renowned for their long shape, premium quality, ample sweetness, bright yellow hue, uniform size, and delicious taste—winning global acclaim. They’re exported to Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, and the Americas.

　　 Daylilies are nutritionally dense, rich in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, inorganic salts, and trace amounts of asparagine. Alongside shiitake mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and magnolia slices, they’re esteemed as delicacies, often featured in soups. They also offer medicinal benefits. *Compendium of Materia Medica* notes their ability to soothe the chest, harmonize organs, improve vision, and treat dark urine. Modern research confirms their hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and heat-clearing properties. They’re used to treat hematemesis, nosebleeds, tuberculosis, bloody stools, urinary blockages, and even enhance lactation in new mothers.