A giant lily that blooms once in its lifetime is currently in flower at a stately home.
A rare sight seen no more than a handful of times in the UK in the last 30 years, Somerleyton Hall Garden’s Giant Spear Lily is currently in flower and can be seen in the garden over the next few weeks.
The lily, which is native to Eastern Australia, is more than 30 years old and is grown indoors.
The plant was gifted to Simon Gaches, the head gardener at Somerleyton Hall Gardens,10 years ago by the late Will Giles of the Exotic Garden in Norwich.
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Mr Gaches said: "It’s really exciting and sad at the same time to see such a beautiful and unusual flower because it's the end of a long era of looking after her."
The UK has seen this rare plant flower just a few of times over the past three decades, mostly in the specialist glasshouses of botanic gardens such as Wisley, Kew, Edinburgh and Cambridge.
People can visit the plant at Somerletyon Hall Gardens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
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