Iris domestica aka Blackberry Lily

Iris domestica is a perennial in the iris family. Gardeners call it blackberry lily or leopard lily. It also bears the older name Belamcanda chinensis. Its native range stretches from the Himalayas to Japan and the Philippines. It grows on damp banks and among shrubs near cultivated land. Growers raise it for garden display and traditional medicine.

Plants form upright clumps from short, creeping rhizomes. Garden plants reach about 2–4 feet (0.6–1.2 metres) tall. Their spread ranges from 0.75–2 feet (0.23–0.61 metres). RHS gives a lower height range, reaching 3.3 feet (1 metre). Useful Tropical Plants records heights up to 4.9 feet (1.5 metres). Growth proceeds at a moderate pace. Narrow green leaves rise in flat fans from the rhizome. They reach about 0.7–0.8 feet (0.2–0.25 metres) long. The leaves have smooth edges and die back each year. Thin, wiry stems hold the flowers above the leaves.

Flowers open in July and August and attract butterflies. Each flower has six petals, with dark red spots. The blooms range from yellow to orange and reddish orange. Flowers span about 0.13–0.17 feet (0.04–0.05 metres). Groups of three to twelve blooms create the summer display. Green or yellow-green capsules follow the flowers. These pods split and expose shiny black seed clusters. The clusters look like blackberries but are not edible berries. Flowers and seed heads both add interest to borders.

Give plants full sun for the best flower display. They also tolerate light or dappled shade. Keep soil moist but allow excess water to drain. Wet soil in winter can kill the rhizomes. Established plants tolerate drought. Clay, loam, and sandy soils can suit this plant. RHS favours neutral to slightly acid soil. It also lists tolerance of acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 5–10; RHS assigns H7. RHS recommends winter mulch and says pruning is not needed. Sow seeds or divide plants in spring.

Use blackberry lily in cottage gardens, coastal beds, or walkway borders. Its flowers also suit cutting gardens. Care demands are low, with few serious pest problems. Iris borers may damage rhizomes; slugs, snails, and thrips may attack. Viruses, bacterial soft rot, and grey mould can occur. The rhizome has a history of use in Asian medicine. One source reports cooked leaves as food but warns of toxicity. RHS warns that eating the plant harms people and pets. Wear gloves when handling it, and do not treat it as a food crop.