Rare giant lilies bloom at National Trust's Dunham Massey

At Dunham Massey in Altrincham, dozens of giant Himalayan lilies have burst into bloom, towering up to four metres tall in a dramatic display that only occurs once in the plant’s lifetime.

The lilies take between five and seven years to bloom and are currently on show as part of the immersive art installation ORIGIN, which explores themes of nature, life, and human connection.

Katie Clayton, programming and experiences manager at Dunham Massey, said: "It’s incredibly exciting to see the Himalayan Lilies which inspire this extraordinary immersive experience finally bloom.

"ORIGIN intertwines art and wellbeing to explore themes around the cycle of life and human connection with nature, with the Himalayan Lily at its heart.

"You’ll have to see for yourself with messages to discover and unlock within yourself.

"We’re thrilled to hear from visitors that ORIGIN provides a welcome moment of relaxation and connection that will stay with them long after their visit."

Katie Clayton, Programming and Experiences Manager standing next to the Giant Himalayan Lillies at Dunham Massey (Image: Supplied) The towering lilies, which emerge from a large rosette, produce clusters of 20 to 40 trumpet-shaped white flowers.

Their brief flowering period lasts only one to two weeks.

Megan Pearson, senior gardener at Dunham Massey, said: "Don't miss the chance to see these incredible flowers – they can take up to seven years to grow from seed and they only flower for about one or two weeks."

ORIGIN at Dunham Massey (Image: Stephen Dobbie) The ORIGIN experience continues inside the house until Sunday, November 2, 2025.

It includes a specially created wellness space filled with sound and light, and is surrounded by weaved willow structures by artist Juliette Hamilton.

ORIGIN is a collaborative work by artists Colin Nightingale and Stephen Dobbie, known as A Right/Left Project, with composer Toby Young, lighting designer Ben Donoghue, and D&B Soundscape.

Field Hospital for Eco-Anxiety (Image: Paul Harris Photography) Elsewhere at Dunham Massey, the Orangery is hosting A Field Hospital for Eco-Anxiety, an installation designed to reconnect visitors with nature.

Running until Sunday, September 28, the space is filled with tropical plants and features bio-sonification - a process that translates plant biorhythms into calming sounds.

The installation is the work of The Edible Bus Stop, Not here to be liked, and Internal Garden, in partnership with Dunham Massey’s gardening team.

Both experiences are included with a general admission ticket.

Entry tokens for ORIGIN are available on a first-come, first-served basis for time slots every half hour between 11am and 4pm.