Blackberry lily, also referred to as leopard lily and leopard flower, is a short-lived perennial native to eastern Russia, China and Japan. The dried rhizome has long been used medicinally in Eastern Asia for a variety of ailments. This plant is not a true lily but is a member of the iris family (Iridaceae) with the name Iris domestica (formerly Belamcanda chinensis, which is still commonly used.) It survives and flowers reliably in our area. The flowers are typically bright orange with darker spots

Blackberry lily has flat, sword-like leaves arranged in a fan on a small tuberous rhizome. The foliage grows to 18 inches tall, and the plants produce many offsets. The flowers, however, are very different in appearance from typical iris flowers. They are borne on 2-3 foot tall slender stems in loose, branched spikes. The tall flower stems sometimes flop or are blown over in strong winds, so they may benefit from staking. The flowers are 2 inches wide with 6 flaring petals of equal size. Flower color in the species ranges from yellow to orange, with darker (often crimson) speckling on the petals. Individual blooms are short-lived, generally lasting only a day, but the plants produce a succession of flowers over a period of several weeks in summer.

The flowers are followed by pear-shaped seed capsules that fade from green to tan. These eventually open to reveal the round, shiny black seeds arranged in clusters resembling large blackberries that give rise to the common name. The seeds remain on the stalks for several months. When left standing, the seed heads offer good winter interest, especially when viewed against a backdrop of snow. The seed heads make a unique addition to dried flower arrangements.