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Iris domestica
The flowers are typically orange spotted with red. The bloom opens for a day, then after pollination, the petals corkscrew to a close. The seed pods form below the closed flower and open in the fall, showing clusters of black seeds whose fancied resemblance to a blackberry gives the plant its common name, "blackberry lily". The leaves grow in a fan, like those of a gladiolus.
It can be grown in many habitats. This is a relative of a plant that I have been moving with me for the past 20 years. The original seeds came from Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. Seeds of this plant were sent to Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. It is well documented in his records.
Belamcanda chinensis, the sole species in the genus Belamcanda, was transferred to the genus Iris and renamed Iris domestica.
Spotted on Jun 18, 2012
Submitted on Jun 17, 2012
2 Comments
Just opened today in time for another rain storm.
I am still waiting for mine to bloom. Like your information!