3'
to 4' tall-Native to China and Japan, this spectacular hardy perennial
puts on a show from early summer until well after frost. A rather
unassuming fan of iris-like leaves arises in the spring, with
numerous small, intricate yellow flowers almost covered with red
spots appearing in the summer above the leaves. After they are
pollinated, the flowers twist themselves up quite remarkably into
tight spirals of dark yellow and red-orange, giving way to balloon-like
bright green seed pods, which crumple back to reveal gorgeous
clusters of deep purple berries in the fall (at a glance similar
to a large blackberry). I have never seen a single flower do so
many amazing things before. The roots are used in Chinese medicine,
having antifungal and antiviral properties. One source says that
the young leaves are edible, but I haven't tried this yet. Also
known as Blackberry Lily, Leopard Flower, and, in China, She Gan.
$4.00/20 seeds LIMITED QUANTITIES ONLY
