blackberry lily

blackberry lilyBlackberry lily (Iris domestica) in bloom.

blackberry lily, (Iris domestica), perennial flowering plant of the iris family (Iridaceae), a popular garden flower. It is native to East Asia and is naturalized in some parts of North America. Despite its name, the plant is not a true lily; it was formerly known as Belamcanda chinensis.

The blackberry lily has branching stems, lower grassy foliage, and a stout rhizomatous rootstalk. The red-spotted orange flowers have six petallike segments. The capsule wall of the fruit recurves at maturity to display shiny black seeds resembling the fruit of the blackberry.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.