Table 3. Palm wannabes. suitability and competitive price will ensure the continued ex pansion of palms into the mix of horticultural tools and media Australian Nut Palm Cycas media used to create the virtual paradise in which we live. Innovative Australian Ivy Palm Brassaia actinophylla methods and the application of new technology will allow wider Cardboard Palm Zamia furfuracea distribution, more profitable production and even new uses of

Good LuckPalm Cordyline terminalis palm plants in the future. From microwave treatment of seed, Oxalis deppei for more rapid germination; to the use of Mycorrhizal fungus,

Grass Palm Cordyline australis for greater efficiency of nutrient uptake the horizon looks

King Sago Palm Cycas revoluta bright in the world of palms. The technology of "controlled at mosphere" in production and transportation to market yields Leopard Palm or Snake Palm Amorphophallus rivieri quality plants grown profitably. Eco-friendly "Coir based" pot Echeveria coccinea Mexican Palm ting media adds to customer satisfaction that will fuel increased Palm Grass Circuligo capitulata demand for "The sentries of paradise" palms. Setaria palmifolia

Palm Polly Polyradicion lindenii Tropical image Panama Hat Palm Carludovica palmata

Ponytail Palm Beaucarnia recurvata The desire for human beings to dwell naturally in the

Queen Sago Palm Cycas circinalis tropics is evidenced by the popularity of tropical looking palm trees. Even other plants unrelated to the palm family Stilt Palm Pandanus utilis have jumped on the "Bandwagon" as paJm wannabes. Travelers Palm Ravenala madagascariensis

Umbrella Palm Cyperus alternifolius Literature Cited

Betrock, I. 1999. Plant Finder Oct. 15, 1999. Betrock Information Systems, prone varieties does little to endear the industry empow Hollywood, FL. ered to create pleasing environmental surroundings. Corman, M. J. 1987. Palms available for landscaping in Southern Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 100:156-159. Gallivan, R. D. 1999. Personal communication. Seeds of Change McLean, D. 1999. Palms and cycads: Species for limited height situations. Broward Community College, Davie, FL. As the new millenium proceeds urban density specifically in Meerow, A. W. 1999. Expanding your palm palette. University of Florida, Ft. the subtropics (zone 9 + 10) will require innovative and ethical Lauderdale, FL. varietal selection processes. Qualities such as diversity, beauty, Walters, T. 1999. Personal communication.

Proc. Fla. State Hort Soc. 112:252-253. 1999.

BLACKBERRY-LILY, A FLOWERING PERENNIAL FOR FLORIDA

J. F. Garofalo rennials are recommended for trial by home gardeners and University of Florida nurserymen. Probably the only reason Belamcanda is not seen Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Service more in Florida is that gardeners and growers don't know them Homestead, FL 33030-2309 and don't know how well they perform in our climate.

Additionalindex words. Ornamentals, cut-flowers, dry arrange Belamcanda chinensis. This species has previously been ments. placed in the genera Pardanthus, Ixia and Gemmingia. The com mon name "blackberry-lily" comes from the shape of the mature Abstract. Blackberry-lily, Belamcanda chinensis Adans [Pardan- fruit; the other common name, "leopard-lily" is for the spotted thus Ker-Gawl], dwarf blackberry-lily, B. flabellata Grey, and flowers. A member of the Iris family (Iridaceae), Belamcanda (an candy-lily, x Pardancanda norrisii, constitute a group of close Asian name for this plant) is native to China,Korea, and Japan. ly-related species which have the potential of becoming popu lar, sought-after herbaceous perennials for gardens in Florida, Biology thusthey are a potential new crop for production nurseries in the area. All three produce many two-inch flowers in Summer; Belamcanda is an herbaceous perennial with stout rhizomes, in South Florida they are evergreen and tend to be in bloom most of the time. They have shown no tendency to escape cul which grows to three feet or so. It is often listed in catalogs with tivation. Presently they are only rarely seen. All three offer the the bulbs, presumably because it has "bulbous" relatives, and greatest potential if grown from seed and selected for desirable resembles those bulbous relatives. The leaves are Iris-like, bas traits, including flower production, color, and size. These pe al, and attached to a shortstem, in fans, up to about teninches

252 Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112: 1999. long and one inch or less wide. The plant as a whole looks very reaching only 12-20 inches. The flowers are slightly larger and much like a small iris, but the species is separated from Iris by clear yellow; they may be lightly spotted orange, but if so, only having undivided style arms. Though they are naturally decid at the bases of the segments. The filaments are white. The pe uous, they are evergreen in our climate. Flowers are borne in rianth segments are more rounded at the tip, and perhaps large numbers in a much-branched inflorescence that is di- slightly wider, giving the flower a fuller appearance. This spe chotomous or loosely corymbose. They are sometimes recom cies was first collected in Japan. mended for cutting, but because the flowers are short-lived and It is now being grown in South Florida on a small scale, open over a period of several weeks, the overall display of a cut but no long-term data are presently available. The original spray is limited, and cutting would remove numerous buds. plants were ordered from a nursery in the North Carolina The flowers are orange, with reddish to brownish spots, up mountains. They have been in the ground over a year, and are to about two inches across, on short stalks. They are hermaph growing well. They have bloomed, and a few seeds have rip roditic (bisexual), and star-shaped, with the perianth segments ened. These have been planted, and the seedlings have grown (tepals) pointed at the tips, the petals slightly larger than the well. These plants have remained dwarf, just over twelve inch sepals, and the filaments reddish-purple. Flowers open in late es. They went completely dormant in November, dropping all morning and close the same day, twisting spirally as they fade. their leaves. This was less than 6 months after they were plant The six segments stand apart (or rarely overlap), and are about ed. They resumed growth in the Spring, and continued to equal in length, thus the flower is regular. Prominent in the grow well during the Summer and Fall. They did not go dor center of the flower, the long style branches into three short mant the second Winter, and behave now as evergreen peren stigmas, which are held well above the stamens. nials, just as their tall relatives have done. These would make The fruit is a capsule with 3 chambers. At maturity the good perennials for the front of flowerbeds or borders, espe valves are reflexed, exposing a column covered with glossy cially since they remain evergreen and flower well. black seeds. This structure very much resembles a blackberry, There are several color variants of both tall and dwarf and it remains intact for an indefinite period. This is why the plants which are offered for sale as seeds. These are still avail plant is commonly called the blackberry-lily. Fruiting branch able, but are not very common. One such color variant is es are often used in dried arrangements, and last for months. called 'Freckle Face'. It has orange flowers with distinct spots. Candy-Lilies. A reported bi-generic hybrid, sold as xPardancan- Landscape Use and Culture da norrisii, or "candy-lily," is probably not a true bi-generic hybrid, but one or more hybrids of color variants of the two species within Blackberry-lilies perform well in the upper and middle the genus Belamcanda. The name is a combination oiPardanthus South, but along the upper coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in and Belamcanda, which are synonyms for the blackberry-lily. cluding all of Florida, they behave as short-lived perennials. A These are reported to be hardier than the parent species, planting can be maintained if it is renewed each year by plant though that doesn't concern us in South Florida. They are ing some seed. Without such renewal the clumps tend to die perhaps six inches shorter than the typical Belamcanda, and out within two or three seasons. come in bicolors and selfs (all one color), often polka-dotted In South Florida they grow and survive quite well. They or streaked, and in shades of blue, purple, yellow, orange, keep their foliage all year, and tend to be in bloom most of red, pink, and very pale yellow (creamy white). The color the time. Belamcanda grows best for us in light to moderate combinations are really interesting and varied. Some of these shade. Good drainage is required, or the plants rot. Some or have wide, overlapping floral segments, and some of the flow ganic matter should be incorporated if the soil is sandy or ers are a bit larger. A dwarf (12 in.) cultivar called 'Dazzler' is rocky, but good drainage is a must. available. They are grown to a limited extent in South Florida, Propagation is by seed, which may be planted any time but there is no long-term data for them. Plants purchased lo they are available. They bloom within a year, and often within cally have always turned out not to be blackberry-lilies. six months if they are watered as needed and fertilized lightly Candy-lilies are clearly worth growing because they in every 4 to 6 weeks. Division of clumps is also practiced, as is crease the color range, and through the selection of desirable the transplanting of volunteers, both of which may be done at forms and colors, may yield some interesting cultivars. Seed any time of year. It is usually not necessary to divide the ling populations often vary somewhat in height, so there is clumps because older plants tend to die out. A permanent but also the potential of selecting for types of intermediate and light organic mulch should be maintained. Be careful not to dwarf statures. A breeding program with candy-lilies and the cover the crown, or it will rot. two blackberry-lilies would make an excellent project for a This plant is easy to grow, very drought-tolerant once estab dedicated hobby grower with an interest in genetics. lished, and tends to be in bloom year-round in South Florida. A small planting at the University of Florida-Fort Lauderdale Availability Research and Education Center has thrived for more than four years, the clumps remaining about the same size. A few Plants of Belamcanda are occasionally available in Florida at seedlings are allowed to develop each year to keep the planting nurseries which specialize in the unusual. They are sold as can from dying out. It has shown no tendency to escape cultivation dy-lilies, but are in fact Blackberry-lilies. These plants are either or become invasive, but as with any new plant, we should be grown up north and shipped in, or produced locally. Plants grown locally from seed are probably preferable, because they alert to any such potential. are adapted to the climate from the start. Both seeds and plants are offered at reasonable prices by most of the nationally- Related Species known seed and plant companies, through their wholesale and B. flabellata. This species is commonly called dwarf black retail catalogs. Seed germination is slow, taking about 3 weeks, berry-lily, and is often sold as the cultivar 'Hello Yellow'. It is but once they're up they are a quick crop for growers. You need similar to B. chinensis except it is a dwarf form, with stems buy seeds only once, because they set seed well in Florida.

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112: 1999. 253