This short living perennial of Japan, Eastern Russia and China is simply fantastic. Delicate stems hold precious flowers with ease while staunch sword like leaves give a fullness around the base of the lily. The three countries formerly listed are all home to the blackberry lily. It has been noted in several journals the blackberry lily resembles an Iris more than a lily. The common markings within the blossoms of the blackberry lily are of a deep orange color on a petal of a softer yellow with a long stem. Sometimes colors of the blackberry lily can be as dark as crimson or as light as a peachy color. Each stem plays host to a set of branched spikes that host the flowers. These flowers do have a tendency to be easily blown over in the slightest wind, which if you prefer to stake would be a good idea. The blackberry lily has many other names and is most commonly known as the “Leopard Lily”. One note to keep in mind is the blackberry lily may at one point in its lifetime produce flowers of a pure yellow, without any trace of spots!



In the growers map across the lower forty eight states, it is suggested the best zone for the blackberry lily is only zone four. Temperatures in this zone offer steady spring and summer temperature allowing the blackberry lily to flower consistently. However, many dispute this statement and have actually suggested all growing zones for this particular lily are good. More northern climates, where snow and prolonged exposure to colder temperatures, should consider keeping the blackberry lily in containers to be moved inside a greenhouse or inside the basement at the slightest downward change in temperature.

Through careful studies, the blackberry lily should be admitted into the Iris family, but for the lack of a Latin name to use for the Iris is in dispute. The name (Belamcanda Chinensis) the blackberry lily would be content, but there is already in existence another plant that holds this exact name. In the early portion of 2005, the new name of (I. Domestica belamacanda) has been suggested, but the decision has yet to be made.

The tuberous rhizome of the blackberry lily is one reason why it should be inducted into the Iris family. Other lily plants and flowers do not come from this shaped rhizome. The growth of the foliage on the blackberry lily is one of the tallest at eighteen inches. From this plant you may expect to find many offsets. Throughout the growing time for the blackberry lily, which is usually just a few weeks in summer, comes to an end with the formation of light to medium tan colored seed pods. These pods take about a week to begin drying out. As the pod peals away you will be richly rewarded for the “blackberry” stem that contains the seeds of this plant. This is the reason why the Leopard Lily has also been called the blackberry lily. The seed pods are generally used for decoration in dried flower vases and can be left on the plant through winter.