Guernsey Lily

Did you know

• The 'Guernsey Lily' name arose from the legend that bulbs from a Dutch shipwreck washed ashore on Guernsey and naturalized there — though the true origin is South African.
• The flowers possess a shimmering iridescence caused by the unique structure of their petal cells, which diffract light like a prism.
• Uniquely among bulb flowers, it produces its blooms in autumn before the leaves emerge — the bare flower stalks rise from apparently dead soil to produce spectacular clusters.
• The species is named sarniensis after Sarnia, the Latin name for Guernsey, cementing the apocryphal island connection.
• Nerine bulbs bloom best when their roots are congested — unlike most bulbs, they perform poorly if given too much space, thriving in crowded pots.

Color meanings

Uses

• ornamental
• cut flower