Autumn Squill
Prospero autumnale
This delicate plant sends up tiny pink or lilac flowers just as many other species are finishing for the year. On Lihou, it can pop up in sparsely vegetated spots where competition is low, providing a surprise burst of colour in late summer. Its flower spikes may go unnoticed unless you look closely at the island’s short grassland and along the edges of the footpaths.
- Habitat: Short turf, rocky ledges, and thin soils; prefers well-drained coastal slopes.
- When to See: Flowers in late summer to early autumn
- Length: 5–15 cm high with slender flower stems.