A single blackberry lily (Iris domestica) flowered into the last week of August while most are long past and seed pods are splitting to reveal their clusters of glossy black seeds (below). Many flowers topped six feet with abundant summer rainfall and unfortunately, all are flopping despite my efforts to stake them upright.

For several years, I harvested seeds in early autumn that were sown in late winter. Germination rates were excellent, but many faded due to my inattentive watering. Still, there were enough survivors to plant into small gaps in the rear garden. When these began to flower and set seed, I tossed seeds by hand onto bare soil with equal success, but now there are enough, or maybe too many as I’ve begun to dig and pot seedlings that grow too close to the paths.

Potted blackberry lilies will be given away to family or visitors, or sold inexpensively at the spring plant sale for the benefit of the local high school’s horticulture department. I’ve also potted a number of toad lily seedlings, most all from ‘Miyazaki’ (Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’) though a few variegated seedlings have been discovered.

Since toad lilies have been planted close beside paths and patios where the small blooms are more easily seen, seedlings are often plucked from between stones to be potted. No special care is necessary for seedlings of blackberry lilies or toad lilies. After the initial watering when they’re potted, most are irrigated only by rainfall.

While most of the toad lilies flower in September, I’ve enjoyed more August flowers this year. ‘Miyazaki’ and variegated Tricyrtis hirta hybrids will begin flowering by mid-September with flowers occasionally persisting until frost.