Leopard Lily is a showy perennial that brings bold, spotted flowers to summer gardens across hardiness zones 5 to 10. This rhizomatous iris relative grows 12 to 18 inches tall and produces deep orange, lily-like flowers heavily dotted with red throughout July and August. Hardy and low-maintenance, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and well-drained soil, rewarding gardeners with both spectacular blooms and decorative seedpods that extend the season's visual interest.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-10
18in H x 12in W
—
Low
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Deep orange flowers spotted with red dots create a striking, spotted appearance that inspired the common name leopard lily. The plants flower reliably from July through August on wiry stems above sword-shaped, iris-like foliage, and after blooms fade, showy seedpods develop that many gardeners leave standing for late-season ornament. Slow-spreading clumps are undemanding once established, needing only full sun and moderate moisture to thrive across a broad hardiness range.
Leopard Lily serves as an ornamental flowering perennial, valued for its striking spotted blooms in summer gardens and its persistent, decorative seedpods in fall. The flowers add drama to border plantings and cut-flower arrangements when they're in season, while the later-developing pods extend garden interest well into cooler months.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Remove spent flower stems to tidy the plant and encourage longer blooming, though leaving some flowers to mature allows self-seeding. In late fall or early spring, cut back dead foliage to make room for new growth emerging from the rhizomes.
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“Iris domestica, commonly known as blackberry lily or leopard lily, carries a name rooted in its eventual fruit rather than its flowers. The plant's journey through gardens reflects how common names accumulate over time, with 'leopard lily' referencing the spotted petals and 'blackberry lily' alluding to the dark, berry-like seeds that follow. Its presence in cultivation speaks to gardeners' appreciation for plants that earn their keep twice over, first with summer color and later with architectural seedpods.”