Iris domestica
(syn. Belamcanda chinensis)
blackberry lily
iridaceae
Orange star-shaped flowers; irislike leaves
3–4 ft. high; 2 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms July–August
Zones 5–10
pruning Old flowers literally roll up,
and the seeds turn into attractive black
berries. Plants will reseed, sometimes
heavily under the right conditions, but
allowing some seeding is recom-
mended to ensure the presence of this
often short-lived perennial in the
garden. Removing some of the fruit
before the seeds drop can reduce
overseeding, although seedlings are
easily removed. If fruit is to be used for
dried arrangements, cut before frost,
as frost causes them to shrivel. The
black berries add winter interest to the
garden if allowed to remain. Remove
any dead leaves and clean up debris at
the base of the plant through the
summer and for the winter, especially
where borers are a problem, to reduce
infestation. Do not compost.
other maintenance Successful
overwintering depends largely on
well-draining soil. Plants are
short-lived, particularly where
summers are cool and moist. Tolerates
colder winter temperatures in areas
with long, hot summers. Mulch in
regions colder than zone 5, and avoid
autumn planting to prevent frost
heaving. Divide carefully in the spring
or late summer, although it is easier to
allow seedlings to replace the parent
plant after a year or two. Plant may
require staking in rich soils.
related plantS Iris domestica
‘Freckle Face’ is self-supporting and
pest and disease free. ‘Hello Yellow’ is
a shorter yellow form. It grows to 12–15
in. and requires no staking. Has
proved to be reliably hardy in the
central Ohio area.
Iris ×germanica
bearded iris
iridaceae
Bearded flowers in a variety of colors;
swordlike flat leaves
2–4 ft. high; 1–2 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms May–June
Zones 3–10
pruning Deadhead individual dead
flowers, not the entire stalk, because
new flower buds will open lower on
the flower stalk. Old flowers turn to
mush and require regular removal to
keep plants attractive. When all
flowering is finished, cut the flower
stalk off down to the foliage. Leaves
are often marred with different foliar
diseases after flowering in late June,
especially in the humid eastern states.
If plants aren’t too badly affected, try
selectively pulling off and trimming
the worst leaves. If badly affected,Iris domestica
‘Hello Yellow’