MysteryDestinySeries (@MysteryDestinySeries)

Dan loves the old‑fashioned invasive ditch lily, Hemerocallis fulva. I love Dan, but I’m a blue person, and there are days when I have to admit he is sort of right. This plant is a nightmare to eradicate. It survives salt, soaking, drought, shade, and even being tossed into the compost. You can mow it, drown it, bake it, or ignore it, and it will still greet you next spring like an uninvited relative who knows you can’t make them leave. And that’s exactly why the ditch lily ended up everywhere. It’s pretty, tough, and was easy to move on a wagon train or a sailing ship. Collectors found it in the Orient as an edible plant and took it home, likely before 1600. Pioneers planted it as a boundary marker because it lasted longer than wooden stakes and didn’t care about weather, livestock, or neglect. It refuses to die and insists on being useful. It’s the mule of the lily world — a sterile triploid clone, the result of two distinct lilies crossing. I’m not suggesting you add this nightmare plant to your garden, because you’ll have to move to get rid of it. But if you already have it, consider eating it. The buds taste like green beans with a sense of humour, and the tubers stay crunchy like water chestnut. Let’s face it: current invasive‑species programs are failing. We all know how this works — the moment a wild plant becomes part of our diet, it immediately moves to the endangered species list. So you can save money on groceries, clean your garden, and accidentally contribute to conservation. That’s a win‑win‑win, courtesy of the ditch lily. Ps Make sure your identification is correct. All lilies are not edible!!! If in doubt, don't eat it. #gardening #invasivespecies #Canadian #wildlilies 😄