The Nonesuch Flower

The Nonesuch is a flower with an astonishing depth of scarlet. It was this vibrant colour that 500 years ago led the merchants of Bristol, a flourishing trading port in the west of England, to call the flower the None-such, meaning 'without equal'. In the 17th century Bristol was famous for a woollen cloth dyed brilliant red with natural dyes. Apparently the water around the city was well suited to dying wool so the name of the flower and the rich colour of the cloth were entwined. The Nonesuch became known as the Flower of Bristol.