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Iris domestica

 
Iris domestica
blackberry lily
'Hello Yellow'

Synonym(s) Belamcanda chinensis
Common name blackberry lily
Family iridaceae
Life cycle perennial (Z5-10)
Flowers red-dotted orange (summer)
Size 2-3' tall, 1-2' wide
Light full sun
Cultural notes average soil
Seed ripenslate September

Flowers are followed by clusters of shiny black berries. Foliage is iris-like, stays nice through season. I'll probably always think of this as Belamcanda chinensis, but the taxonomists have decided it's an iris now. So be it. We always have the common speckled version; for a few years, it was joined by offspring of the 'Hello Yellow' cultivar, which stays smaller with bright creamy yellow flowers. That one didn't prove to be as long-lasting in our garden, though.

Iris domestica
Seed pods developing in early August
blackberry lily
Black fruit still hanging on in November, illustrating how the common name for this plant came about.

In our garden, this plant grows in the following areas: back fence border, rock garden zone

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Gave 5w cold, then 70F, with G starting after 1d
  2. Seed for 'Hello Yellow' from '05 trade. Baggy 35F (4w) - 70F (65%G, 7-29d)
  3. Seed from '08 garden. Baggy 35F (4w) - 70F (3w; 5%G, 16d) - 75F (6d) - 70F (30%G, 3-6d)
  4. Seed from '08 garden. Baggy 70F (3w) - 75F (90%G, 7-22d).
    Baggy 75F (6w) - 70F (20%G, 12-16d)
  5. Seed from '15 garden. Baggy 70F (45%G, 20-39d)
  6. Seed from '19 garden. Baggy 70F (38%G, 15-38d). Seeds germinating later and slowly developed weakly or not at all

Be patient with these - germination extends over several weeks. The brief warm period in 2009 may have contributed to a spurt of germination. The most recent attempts demonstrate that a cold stage is not required.


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