Chinese Leopard Lily - The Leopard Among Lilies

In short: Leopard lily (Belamcanda chinensis) is a 60-90 cm perennial with orange, red-spotted flowers that open from July to September. Sow seeds on the substrate surface at 16-30 °C between January and March; seedlings usually appear in 14-16 days. The plant tolerates frost down to -20 °C, but potted specimens are best overwintered in a cool room.

Chinese Blackberry Lily - The Leopard Among Lilies

Chinese Blackberry Lily (Latin: Belamcanda chinensis) is a perennial ornamental herbaceous plant also known as: leopard lily or leopard flower. In 2005, as the only species of the genus Belamcanda, it was transferred to the genus Iris - Iridaceae. Chinese Blackberry Lily, as its species name suggests, originates from China. It also grows in Japan, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and thanks to its medicinal properties also as a medicinal herb.

You can easily recognize this plant by its distinctive orange flowers with leopard pattern. Chinese Blackberry Lily is a plant 60-90 cm tall. The leaves are fan-shaped, sword-like up to 40 cm long and about 3 cm wide. This plant has a rather prominent growth habit and can reach up to 1 m with good care. It won't get lost easily in a flower bed or on a windowsill. On the contrary, not only by its height, but it stands out mainly with its inflorescence, which is smaller and the flowers will delight you from July to September. In indoor temperatures and conditions, they bloom somewhat earlier and longer.

The flowers are yellow to orange in color with red spots. After flowering, seed pods appear on the plant with plenty of dark fleshy seeds, about 5 mm in diameter. These seeds resemble blackberry fruits.

Growing Chinese Blackberry Lily

Chinese Blackberry Lily seeds are sown from January to March. They have very good germination rates. You can help the seeds germinate by scarifying the surface with a file, or by soaking them in water for 1-2 days before sowing. For sowing, it is suitable to use a mini greenhouse, or peat pellets, which you cover with a shelter made from a cut PET bottle, and which you then place directly with the seedling into a prepared pot. The substrate for germinating blackberry lily should contain peat. We place the seeds on the surface, we don't cover them or bury them with soil. During germination, we can heat the substrate in a microwave and maintain a higher temperature in the mini greenhouse. Seeds germinate on the surface of substrate heated to 16-30°C. Seedlings appear after 14-16 days, with germination taking up to 60 days maximum. So if they don't sprout immediately, be patient.

From germination to the appearance of Blackberry Lily flowers takes 4 months after transplanting. The plant is therefore ornamental relatively quickly and there's no need to wait several years for flowers. Blackberry Lily is grown in several varieties that differ from each other in flower color. The flowers of Blackberry Lily resemble iris flowers.

Chinese Anise seedlings should be transplanted into a prepared pot. Remember to include a drainage layer. It thrives in well-draining substrate with sand content, neutral pH, and good nutrition. If you decide to grow it outdoors in a flowerbed - Chinese Anise thrives in a sunny location. Chinese Anise stands out beautifully alongside ornamental grasses, and you can plant it near water features. It will also look elegant in a seating area corner. Outdoor cultivation requires overwintering the plant. If you don't have space to dedicate to the plant, then growing Chinese Anise as an indoor potted plant is more reliable. On a windowsill, it only needs a partially sunny location and tolerates heat from radiators well.

Watering should be done regularly, without waterlogging the plant, but keeping the substrate moist. This perennial garden herb doesn't need fertilizing. With herbs, excessive fertilization is detrimental. Vigorous plant growth will overpower the flowers and fragrance. If you still want to provide some nutrition to the plant, you can fertilize with cow manure - a very small dose is sufficient.

Once every 2 years, it's advisable to repot the plant. However, don't choose a pot much larger than the previous one. Always remember proper drainage as the bottom layer in the pot. Chinese Anise as an indoor plant will last several years. If it suddenly turns yellow, there's no need to worry about drying out - the plant regenerates this way after the flowering period. It usually sprouts green leaves again.

Chinese Anise is a frost-resistant plant, but it's advisable to let it overwinter. If you're growing it outdoors, it's good to keep this in mind and plant it in a portable container. It can withstand temperatures down to -20°C. If you decide to leave it outside over winter, pile conifer branches, straw around it, or wrap it in non-woven fabric to protect the plant from frost. This exotic plant can survive mild Czech winters. During overwintering, reduce watering for Chinese Anise and move the plant to a cooler room where other garden plants will overwinter.

If you grow Chinese Anise year-round as an indoor plant, then leave it in its location - it doesn't need overwintering.

Effects of Blackberry Lily and Interesting Facts

Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis) is a perennial medicinal plant native to China. In Chinese villages, it has been used in traditional healing for its medicinal properties. The dried rhizome has been used since ancient times to treat throat inflammations, asthma, liver and spleen swelling, and to help cure gonorrhea and malaria. At the first signs of throat pain during flu and tonsillitis, Blackberry Lily leaves are chewed - simply cut off about 3 cm from the leaf tip, chew it, and then spit it out. The active substances are found in the leaves and rhizomes, which are recommended to be stored in alcohol and used diluted for gargling. Blackberry Lily is very potent, so it should not be used long-term. Leaves should be chewed for approximately 30 seconds, maximum 6 times daily. After these 30 seconds, you will feel relief similar to using throat sprays for tonsillitis.

Some people may experience allergic reactions (severe burning, swelling of the throat, airways and mucous membranes) - if this occurs, stop chewing the leaves immediately. Never swallow the leaves! Do not allow children to use such potent substances. The plant contains glycosides (belamcandin, tectoridin), flavonoids, tannins, essential oils, saponins, and likely other alkaloids that have not been thoroughly studied. This is a medicinal plant, but it can have toxic effects on the body. Do not exceed the recommended daily dosage for chewing.

Currently, studies are underway examining the potential of this herb in treating prostate cancer. The active compounds in this plant help fight viral infections and help reduce inflammation and fever.

Not everyone may be a supporter of this alternative medicine and natural remedies. Blackberry Lily excellently fulfills the role of an ornamental and interesting plant that will brighten up your garden and delight with beautiful flowers that appear relatively early after sowing seeds. Blackberry Lily is also suitable as a decorative cut flower.

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Author: Hana Michalíková