Iris domestica Seeds | Leopard Lily Belamcanda Chinensis
LATIN NAME: Iris domestica
COMMON NAME: Leopard Lily
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Leopard Lily (Iris domestica) is a perennial in the iris family. Leopard lily opens its orange, spotted flowers in late summer, and small, fan-shaped leaves spread along the stems. It is a plant of open, sunny to lightly shaded, deep, well-drained ground. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the iris family, Iris domestica contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. In practice, its long garden history means the grower inherits a plant of known and dependable habits.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Leopard Lily earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Leopard lily is a fine, bright plant of border and wild patch. It is a fine, bright plant of open, sunny to lightly shaded, deep, well-drained garden. Give young plants light shade and deep soil, and spotted flowers will come in second season. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
Iris rhizomes, the orris of perfumery, yield one of the most luxurious fragrance materials after years of curing; the genus has toxic fresh rhizomes, so its medicinal history is strictly professional and its garden value immense.
Growing from Seed
Leopard Lily grows readily from seed. Fill a pot with a light seed compost, sow evenly on the surface, cover thinly and stand it somewhere warm, bright and evenly moist. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Leopard Lily settles in quickly once it finds its footing. It tolerates the sort of small mistakes every beginner makes.
Related Reading
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