Blackberry-leopard Lily Belamcanda Chinensis Seeds
Blackberry Freckle Face lilies will grow from 3 to 6 feet tall. The lily grows tallest when grown in fertile soil and will have plenty of colorful blossoms.
This plant has a tropical appearance but is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 10 and perhaps in zone 4. Grows best in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Seeds are collected from 16-year-old crowns.
CULTIVATION:
The leopard lily has a very long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a bitter cooling herb that acts mainly on the lungs and the liver, lowering fevers and reducing inflammation.
It is effective against a number of bacterial, fungal, and viral organisms and has also been used as an antidote to snakebites. The root contains several medically active constituents including flavonoids and isoflavonoids. It also contains the glucosides belamcandin, tectoridin, shekanin, and iridin.
It is analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, depurative, expectorant, febrifuge, pectoral, purgative, stomachic, and tonic. It is used in the treatment of acute laryngitis, acute tonsillitis, oedema of the glottis, and cough with profuse sputum.
The juice of the root is used in Nepal to treat liver complaints, where it has the added benefit of improving the appetite. The root is harvested in the summer and autumn and dried for later use.
PROPAGATION:
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Pre-chill stored seed for 7 days and sow during springtime in a cold frame.
The seed germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at 68 F. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. They can be planted out in early autumn and should flower in the following year.
Division in spring or early autumn. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions while smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.
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