Guernsey Lily Plant Care
Nerine sarniensis Herb.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Nerine sarniensis, commonly known as Guernsey lily or Raquel is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is the type species of the Nerine genus.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Guernsey Lily?
Water Guernsey Lily every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Guernsey Lily Native To?
What Is the Guernsey Lily?
Guernsey Lily (Nerine sarniensis) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Nerine genus. Guernsey Lily is native to the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. Guernsey Lily is also known as Cape Lily, Spider Lily.
Guernsey Lily displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Guernsey Lily produces showy clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Guernsey Lily?
Nerine sarniensis requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Guernsey Lily Need?
Guernsey Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Guernsey Lily Prefer?
Nerine sarniensis grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Guernsey Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Guernsey Lily?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter like compost. Good drainage is essential for Guernsey Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Guernsey Lily?
Feed Guernsey Lily every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Guernsey Lily?
Repot every 2-3 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Guernsey Lily?
Guernsey Lily can be propagated through offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bowden lily plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Guernsey Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Guernsey Lily?
Guernsey Lily is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, thrips. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Guernsey Lily Need?
Guernsey Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Guernsey Lily is native to the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. In cooler regions, grow Guernsey Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Guernsey Lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Nerine genus — compare its care with other Nerine species on PlantoScan.
Nerine is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
Guernsey Lily thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Nerine sarniensis Herb., family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Bot. Mag. 47: t. 2124 (1820)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Guernsey Lily is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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