Re: OT-PLANTS: blackberry Lily-lilly or iris??

J. Michael, Celia or Ben Storey wrote:
> 
> >One question, One thought.  Question first:had the question put to me on
> >private line, Is  the plant called "blackberry lily" a lily or an iris?
> 
> Neither.
> 
> Belamcanda chinensis, the blackberry lily, is an irid, a member of the
> Iridacea family though not of the genus Iris. Native to China and Japan, it
> thrives in sandy loam and full sun. The rootstock is rhizomatous, and the
> leaves are, as you describe, iris-like. The seed capsule's valves reflex as
> the pod matures, exposing a column of glossy black seeds resembling a
> blackberry.
> 
> Read this in a book. Must be true. I've tried growing the little devil from
> seeds but have had, so far, no luck at all.
> 
> celia

All that Celia says is true.  I've raised it from seed. It proliferates
wonderfully and is pretty, but the flower/stalk/bloom duration ratio
isn't worth it to me for the space it takes up (does well in
semi-shade). Dug it all and chucked it.

Griff Crump, along the tidal Potomac near Mount Vernon, VA 
jgcrump@erols.com
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