Blackberry Lily

Native to Japan, Eastern Russia, and China, the blackberry lily is a short-lived perennial with delicate blooms held above bold, sword-shaped foliage — and it's not really a lily at all.

More Iris Than Lily

Also known as the "Leopard Lily" for its deep orange, spotted blossoms on a softer yellow base (occasionally as dark as crimson or as light as peach), botanists have long argued the blackberry lily actually belongs with the irises rather than true lilies — its tuberous rhizome, unlike any other lily's, is the main evidence. A lasting scientific name has been disputed for years, with I. domestica belamacanda proposed as a fix. Flowers sit atop branched spikes on stems that can blow over easily in wind, so staking is worth considering.

Where It Grows and Its Namesake Seed Pods

Growing zone recommendations vary — some sources point to zone 4 specifically, though others say the plant does fine across a wider range; in colder climates, keeping it containerized so it can be moved indoors during hard freezes is a safer bet. After its brief summer bloom, tan seed pods form and split open to reveal blackberry-like clusters of seeds — the source of the plant's common name — which can be left on the stem through winter or cut for dried arrangements.