Guernsey Lilies: What Customers Ask Us About Nerines
Guernsey lily is the common English name of Nerine sarniensis, a South African bulb from the amaryllis family that flowers in autumn on leafless stems. Despite the name, it is not a lily: the flowers are small, curled and grouped in a cluster of eight to fifteen at the top of the stem, with petals that sparkle in the light.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, which have been open since 2011, nerines always draw questions when customers see them for the first time. We have gathered the most frequent ones here, from where the name comes from to how long the stems last in a vase, how to keep the bulbs at home and what to pair them with in a bouquet.
Is a Guernsey lily a real lily?
The short answer we give at the counter is no. True lilies belong to the genus Lilium and have large trumpet- or star-shaped flowers on leafy stems, often with a strong scent and heavy pollen. Nerines belong to the amaryllis family, together with amaryllis, snowdrops and daffodils. Their flowers are much smaller, with narrow wavy petals that curl back and long, thin stamens. If you are choosing between the two for a gift, our overview Lilies in Russia: Varieties, Scent Levels and Vase Life shows how different real lilies behave in a bouquet.
The name comes from the Channel Island of Guernsey. According to the old story, bulbs from the Cape washed ashore there after a shipwreck in the seventeenth century, and the islanders were amazed by scarlet flowers appearing in the dunes. The bulbs thrived in the mild sea climate, and Guernsey grew them for the London flower trade for generations. The Latin 'sarniensis' preserves this link, since Sarnia is the Roman name of the island.
Why the petals sparkle
The question we hear most is whether the flowers have been sprayed with glitter. They have not: the shimmer is natural. The cells on the petal surface are shaped so that they reflect light like tiny crystals, and growers call this effect 'diamond dust'. It is strongest in crimson and scarlet varieties and visible in pink and white ones too.
To show off the sparkle, place the vase where it catches side light from a window or a lamp, not in a dark corner. In the evening, a warm table lamp beside the bouquet makes the petals glow. Under flat overhead light the effect almost disappears, which is why nerines often look more impressive at home than in a photo.
Nerines have almost no scent. This makes them a good choice for a hospital room, an office or a bedroom, and for people who find lilies or hyacinths too strong. The pollen is also light and does not stain clothes and tablecloths the way lily pollen does.
Colours range from deep crimson and orange-scarlet to coral, salmon, candy pink and pure white, and breeders have added bicolours with darker midribs. Customers who want a romantic bouquet usually pick the red shades, while pink and white nerines are chosen for birthdays, mothers and colleagues. All of them share the same curled shape, so a mix of two close shades in one vase looks deliberate and calm.
Bouquets we can deliver
How long nerines last in a vase
Customers are usually surprised by the answer: ten days to two weeks is normal, and with careful handling even longer. Each stem opens gradually from the outer flowers to the centre of the cluster, so the bouquet changes and stays lively for days. Stems with two or three open flowers and the rest in colour are at the ideal stage.
At home, recut each stem by two or three centimetres with a sharp knife and stand it in clean, cool water with flower food. Change the water every two days and rinse the vase, since cloudy water is the main enemy of any cut flower. Keep the bouquet away from radiators, which in Saint Petersburg apartments work hard from October, and away from fruit, which releases ethylene and ages flowers faster.
As individual flowers fade, snip them off at the base with small scissors. The cluster then stays neat, and the remaining buds get more water. When most of the umbel has finished, the stems can still be shortened and used in a small vase for a few more days.
Keeping Guernsey lily bulbs at home
Some customers ask whether they can grow nerines on a windowsill. It is possible, but the plant has its own calendar. Nerine sarniensis does not tolerate frost, so in our climate it lives in a pot all year and needs a bright, cool place in winter, ideally around 8 to 12 degrees, such as a glazed balcony that does not freeze.
Plant the bulbs in a narrow pot with very free-draining soil, leaving the necks above the surface. Start watering in late August, when the flower spike or leaves appear, and keep the soil lightly moist through autumn and winter while the leaves grow. In late spring the leaves turn yellow: this is the signal to stop watering completely and leave the pot dry in a warm spot until the end of summer.
The most common mistake is watering in summer out of habit, which makes the bulbs rot or skip flowering. The second is repotting too often: nerines flower best when the bulbs are crowded and undisturbed for several years.
Pairing nerines in a bouquet and when to give them
Because the stems are bare, nerines need foliage and calmer flowers around them. In the shop we pair them with roses, lisianthus, small chrysanthemums and eucalyptus, which give volume without hiding the clusters. Crimson nerines with dark red roses make a deep autumn bouquet; pale pink ones with white roses and silver foliage look light and airy. For pairing roses with true lilies, see Can You Put Roses and Lilies in the Same Vase?.
In the language of flowers nerines stand for freedom, good luck and the hope of meeting again. They suit a farewell, a birthday in autumn, or a gift to someone far away. Like all amaryllis-family plants, nerines are harmful if eaten, so if the recipient has a cat or a puppy, mention it on the card or choose a spot out of reach.
Nerines are a seasonal flower, so their availability in bouquets depends on the time of year. For a precise answer for your date, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05, or browse the bouquets catalogue for compositions with a similar look.
Ordering a bouquet to Saint Petersburg and Russia
Most of our English-speaking customers order from abroad for family and friends in Russia. Delivery within the city costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, and in large cities express delivery takes 1 to 2 hours after confirmation.
You can also choose an exact time within 30 minutes, one of the windows 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead. Payment is online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Delivery is anonymous by default, the card with your message is free, and the courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. More details are on the Delivery and payment page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Guernsey lily?
It is Nerine sarniensis, an autumn-flowering bulb from South Africa in the amaryllis family. It got its English name from the island of Guernsey, where it was grown for centuries.
Do Guernsey lilies have a scent?
Almost none. That makes them suitable for offices, hospitals and people sensitive to strong floral fragrance.
How long do cut nerines last?
Usually ten days to two weeks with clean water, flower food and a cool spot away from radiators and fruit.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Yes. Foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, along with Russian bank cards, SBP and Yandex Pay.
Do you deliver at night in Saint Petersburg?
Yes, in Saint Petersburg delivery is around the clock. For questions about a specific order, call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
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