Belamcanda chinensis
[bel-am-KAN-dah chin-EN-sis]

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Iridaceae Family
Iris-like fans of foliage send up orange, red-speckled blooms in summer, followed by ornamental black seed clusters.

Belamcanda chinensis, the blackberry lily, sends up iris-like fans of sword-shaped green foliage topped by wiry stems of two-inch orange flowers speckled with red and lightly tinted yellow at the center. Individual blooms last only a day, but a long summer bloom season keeps new flowers opening in succession. As the flowers fade, they twist shut and give way to showy seed pods that split open to reveal glossy black seed clusters resembling blackberries, prized for dried arrangements and lasting garden interest into fall.

Pros

  • Unique orange, red-speckled flowers unlike typical garden perennials
  • Ornamental black seed clusters extend interest into fall
  • Drought tolerant once established
  • Attracts butterflies

Cons

  • Individual flowers last only a day
  • Detests soggy soil, especially over winter
  • Self-sows readily and can spread beyond where planted
Highlights Unique Flowers Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Good Cut Flower
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Full Sun, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site
Bloom Period Early Summer to Early Fall
Flower Color Orange With Red Spots
 

More Info from Experts

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 05/18 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 08/24
2023 : 04/13 - 08/05


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!