Description

• Blackberry lily seeds. Li-Ji (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsshow/2702861068/)
  
  Blackberry lily has strap-like leaves about 18 inches tall that resemble the leaves of an iris more than those of a lily. Loose spikes of orange to yellow flowers with darker irregular spots top 2- to 3-foot stems.
  
  

Life Cycle

• Blackberry lily flowers last just one day, but the blooms continue through the summer. Seed pods form after the flowers die. When the seed pod dries, it opens to reveal shiny black seeds.
  
  

Location

• Blackberry lily grows best in well-drained soil in the sun or partial shade, but will grow in clay or sand soil. It is hardy in climate zones 5 through 10, based on the United States Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone Map.
  
  

Care

• Blackberry lily is susceptible to crown rot if the roots get too wet. Remove dead flowers to encourage more blooms and to restrict self-seeding.
  
  

Medicinal Uses

• Dried blackberry lily rhizomes are used in Asian countries for throat problems, such as excess phlegm, coughing, laryngitis and tonsillitis.
  
  

Warning

• Blackberry lily is toxic and should not be used by a pregnant woman or a person with spleen deficiency. Consult a licensed health care practitioner before using blackberry lily or any other herbal remedy.