When spring flowers transform Slovenia’s meadows into palettes of vibrant colors, one rare plant stands apart with its unique and striking appearance: the Carniolan lily. Named for the historic Slovenian province of Carniola, the lily is immediately recognizable for its upturned orange petals, giving the flower a bulbous appearance – and the nickname “the golden apple.”

The Carniolan lily, named by the German botanist W.D.J. Koch in 1837, is found in a belt stretching from northern Italy to western Bosnia, but is most common in Slovenia. Known to botanists as lilium carniolicum, it is one of only a small number of plants named after a Slovenian region. Despite its generally unpleasant smell, the lily’s bright colors and unusual shape make it one of the most beloved plants in the country.

Because of its popularity, the Carniolan lily was almost picked to extinction. By the early 20th century, it was an increasingly rare sight in Slovenia’s fields and meadows. It wasn’t until after 1947, when the increasingly rare flowers were protected by law, that their numbers began to rebound.

Thanks to the legislation, the Carniolan lily is now found from the Slovenian Alps to the limestone Karst plateau. Still, it remains a highly endangered plant. It even found itself in the center of controversy when authorities announced the construction of wind turbines on the windswept Volovja Reber ridge. Many environmentalists opposed the turbines because the ridge is the home the Carniolan lily and several other rare plants.

With the combined effects of legislation and increased awareness, however, the number of Carniolan lilies remains generally stable, and the beautiful orange flower is likely to remain a symbol of the Slovenian countryside for decades to come.