I love this easy plant for many reasons. It is not needy. It self sows.
It mixes with other Bellamcanda to make various colors.
Its spent flower petals twist into little buns on the stalk/peduncle.
It gets its name from the fact that after its seed pods burst open, the shiny black seed clusters look like blackberries. (not shown)
Orange freckled is the wild type. Other variations my be called Candy lilies.
FLOWER loves Bellamcanda
Most of the Asiatics have long finished their show.
The daylilies are slowing down.
The Stargazers are turning brown.
But it is not over yet!
The blackberry lilies are going strong.
I started out with a spotted orange type.
Then added a spotted magenta
and a yellow non-spotted candy lily.
These are all Belamcandas.
Other names are blackberry lilies, or leopard flowers.
The name leopard refers to the spots on the petals.
The name blackberry refers to the seed pods which open to expose clusters of black seeds that resemble blackberries.
One of the fascinating things about these is they cross pollinate to produce hybrids.
My two favorites this years are this water-marked form
and this red-orange mix.
I love surprises! I never know what will show up until the flowers open.
I appreciate any flower that keeps going in this heat.
While the FLOWER wilts, the blackberry lilies bloom.
FLOW
The lovely flowers of Belamcanda chinensis are always welcome, no matter where they show up.
This is an iris relative. Its leaves are very similar to an iris, except they fan out from a central stem.
The name comes from the black seed clusters that resemble blackberries. (Not pictured)
There is a wide range of colors. They have mixed over the years.
I love their wiry, tall stalks and the butterfly-like flowers.
Upon close inspection you can see their pretty little spots.
Easy to grow, propagate and move. Just don’t eat the seeds.
FLOWER
floweralley 