Tag Archives: blackberry lily

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: July 2014

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Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day on the 15th of each month.rudbeckiasHigh summer means high heat and humidity. Water evaporates from the ground quickly, and mulch would be helpful but it’s too hot to move. Early mornings and short trips outside provide the means for a successful garden at this time of year.

Tough plants, too, are required. Crocosmia flowers better when there’s abundant water, but short thunderstorms suits it just fine.Crocosmia

The jewel of my July garden must be blackberry lilies, formerly Belamcanda chinensis, now Iris domestica. Looking like an iris only in its foliage, these orchid-like flowers provide delight in the hottest weather.

Blackberry lily, formerly Belamcanda chinensis, now Iris domestica.

Blackberry lily, formerly Belamcanda chinensis, now Iris domestica.

 

 

Planting surprise: Iris domestica?

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On Monday, I thought the yarrow looked rangy and disheartened, so I cut it back. Amongst its tall, woody stems, I found this:

iris domestica, blackberry lily

This has never bloomed in my garden before. Not having considered it closely before now, I assumed that it was more bearded iris foliage. It’s clearly not.

I think it is Iris domestica, formerly known as Belamcanda chinensis, or blackberry lily.

My neighbor grows this plant and I acquired some from her many years ago, but it hasn’t ever bloomed before. Perhaps it hasn’t had adequate water up until now (we are making up for lost opportunity, aren’t we?). The Missouri Botanical Garden website says that the plant creeps slowly by rhizomes and may also self-seed. I know that I sowed some of these seeds in my winter sowing escapade, but nothing materialized.

blackberry lily (iris domestica or belamcanda chinensis) and red hot poker, kniphofia

I can’t wait to see it in bloom! What  a nice surprise.