GARDENERS at Dunham Massey’s garden are on tenterhooks - waiting for an event that only happens after seven years.

The giant lily flowers only once in seven years – and this lasts for just a week before the plant dies, leaving behind a collection of dull brown seedpods.

The plant can be found in China, Burma, the Himalayas – and in the garden at Dunham Massey.

For the first six years of its life it grows very slowly, and then it puts on a spurt - escalating to a height of 3.5 metres - before it blooms, producing a spectacular display of purple throated white flowers.

Damian Harris, Dunham’s head gardener, said: “We have one of the largest collections of giant lilies here at Dunham and it’s always a spectacular sight when their amazing flowers appear. It’s very strange to think of all that effort the plant puts in to ensuring that for one week only it comes to life, and then dies. The seedlings that are produced lie dormant for another seven years before the whole cycle begins again.”

While no one can predict for absolute certainty when the lilies will flower, Damian reckons it should take place from June 17 onwards.

Dunham Massey garden is open daily, 11am – 5.30pm.