PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
summertime Breeze Peruvian lily . Photo by : Proven Winners
Sometimes the good inspiration for choosing new flowers to grow in your garden is a visit to the local florist . One flower you ’re certain to come across isAlstroemeria , also have it off as Peruvian lily .
Once grown in the first place for commercial-grade enjoyment as a slash bloom , Alstroemeriahas more late become a popular addition to the repeated garden , where it put on a dazzling showing of flamboyant lily - similar blooms , ranging in coloring from whispering - soft pastel to vibrant jewel tones .
In temperate climate , this South American indigene can be grown outdoors year - round , often blooming for calendar month on end . But gardeners in coolheaded climates can also enjoy the alien beauty of Peruvian lilies by growing them in a container that can be brought indoors over the wintertime months .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked interrogation
BASICS
Botanical name:
Alstroemeriaspp . and hybrids
Common names:
Peruvian lily , lily of the Incas , princess lily , parrot lily
Plant type:
Tuberous - rooted herbaceous perennial
Zones:
Typically 8 - 10 ; some may be hardy to zone 6 or 7 when given extra protection .
Exposure:
Full Sunday to part shade
Height/spread:
Anywhere from 8 inch to 4 feet improbable , depending on the smorgasbord . Dwarf form ( also called “ micro Alstroemeria ” ) are generally under a foot marvellous .
Bloom time:
Blooms continuously from recent leap until frost if spend flowers are removed readily .
Foliage:
Lance - shaped farewell range in colouring from emerald green to bronze . Some cultivars have variegated foliage . Fun fact : The leaves in reality grow upside down , twisting 180 degree from the base of operations as they unfurl — a outgrowth called “ resupination . ”
Flowers:
horn - shaped bloom up to 2 column inch across make out in shades of orangish , xanthous , red , pink , purple , Salmon River , livid , or bi - colored , often accent by darker whisker or speckles . Each flower base bring about multiple bloom .
Special attributes:
Landscape uses:
motley border , cut flower gardens , container gardens , pollinator gardens , bungalow garden
PLANTING ALSTROEMERIA
picture by : Madele / Shutterstock .
When to plant:
In springiness , after the danger of hoar has passed .
Where to plant:
Alstroemeriaprefer a sunny site with fertile , well - drain soil , although they will benefit from some good afternoon tone where summertime are exceptionally hot . Do not implant in an area prone to stand water , which can conduct to root rotting . If possible , works tall types in a location sheltered from the air current to keep the radical from bend and breaking .
How to plant:
Alstroemeriagrows from tuberous roots , which are easy damaged if not handled carefully . To avoid breakage , dig a cakehole about 6 to 8 inches deep , remove the flora from its nursery pot , and then nestle it into the hole so that the dirt level is even with the top of the rootball . obviate disperse or teasing out the roots , even if they face engorged . Backfill with the surrounding stain , give certain the roots are completely covered , and then tamp down the soil gently . piddle well after planting to settle the dirt around the rootball , topping off with more dirt if necessary .
Spacing:
place plant about 1 to 2 feet aside , depending on their breadth at maturity .
Growing in containers:
Compact varieties of Peruvian lily are specially well - befit for growing in containers , either alone or in mixed arrangements . Choose a pot slightly wider and deep than the plant ’s theme organization , make certain there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom to preclude the grease from getting waterlogged . Half fill up the container with a eminent - quality all - design potting mixture , and insert the plant in so that the top of the rootball model about an inch below the rim . Backfill with more potting admixture , firming it down around the flora with your fingers to move out any air pockets . Get more tips forgrowing plants in containers .
ALSTROEMERIA CARE
Watering:
Alstroemeriathrives when give consistent wet , but they will not permit quaggy filth , which can conduce to rotting of the heavy , tuberous root . During dry spells , provide about an inch of piss per hebdomad . Water container - grown plant whenever the top inch of soil feel dry . Once plants are established , they can care short periods of drought .
Amendments and fertilizer:
BecauseAlstroemeriagrows best in fertile , well - debilitate soil , meliorate it at planting time withcompostto improve drainage and tot nutrient . Also utilize a bed of mulch around the root zone of your plants to facilitate keep the soil moist and insulate the ascendent from temperature extremes .
In springiness , an practical program of a balanced , slow - passing fertiliser designed for flowering plants will avail jumpstart growth . To keep your potted Peruvian lilies in bloom , feed them monthly during the raise time of year using awater - soluble plant life intellectual nourishment .
Pruning and deadheading:
To enjoy a steady crop of flowers , off spent blooms by mildly pulling the whole root word up from the al-Qaeda rather than snipping them off . This encourages the growth of new stems and another flush of blooms . In bounce , when fresh shoot form , straighten up your plants by pulling out honest-to-god shank to make way for new increase .
Propagating:
The quickest and easy way to propagateAlstroemeriais todivide ripe clumps in former spring , reach sure there are healthy genus Tuber in each division . Alstroemeriacan also be disseminate from germ , but germination rates be given to be scurvy and plants start up from collected source may not stay on true to the parent . * See note below on disperse or dividing patented industrial plant ( watch your industrial plant tag for the ® or ™ symbolization by the plant name ) .
Overwintering:
In mood whereAlstroemeriaaren’t wintertime hardy , you may winter the genus Tuber indoors by digging them up in the fall after the first frost , being thrifty not to damage the roots . With some soil still attached , pack the roots between layers of peat moss , sawdust , or wood shave and store them in a cool place ( between 35 ° to 45 ° degree Fahrenheit ) .
If growing plants in container , work the wad indoors over the wintertime and store in a cool garage or basement , water just enough to keep the soil from whole drying out . you’re able to move your Peruvian lily out of doors again when the conditions warms in the fountain .
Pests and diseases:
clout and snailsmay attack the foliation , especially tender , vernal leaves . Also watch out foraphids , thripsandspider touch . In too wet conditions , plant life may be susceptible tobotrytis(gray mold ) .
ALSTROEMERIA VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners
Inca Sundance ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersAlstroemeriahybrid
Zones:8 - 10
Height and spread:12 to 18 inches tall and all-inclusive
Features soft , buttery jaundiced flowers accentuate by burgundy scoring and dark yellow gist . Perfect for container or garden moulding , thanks to a stocky , mounding riding habit .
See more Peruvian lily from Proven Winners .
Inca Magic ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersAlstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:10 to 14 inches tall , 14 to 16 inches wide
A sincerely magical combination of creamy white flowers with Bourgogne and plum splodge and a splash of favourable yellow on the upper petal . grow loads of flowers over a recollective heyday period , from early summer well into fall .
Inca Noble ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersAlstroemeriahybrid
Zones:7 - 10
Height and spread:8 to 12 inch tall , 14 to 16 inches wide
A gnome potpourri with sensational abstruse purple blooms highlight by white centers and dark , most contraband whiskers . inflexible stem and a mound habit eliminates the penury for hazard .
Photo by : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
' The Third Harmonic’Alstroemeriahybrid
elevation and spread:2 to 4 feet tall , 2 to 3 feet broad
bring forth an plosion of big funnel - shaped flowers that change color from chicken to deep golden orange as they ripen . Will blossom nearly twelvemonth - round in frost - complimentary gardens .
pic by : Jonathan Ward / Millette Photomedia
' Indian Summer’Alstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:26 to 30 inches tall , 20 to 24 inches wide
Lily - like blooms in lovesome autumnal tone of orange , Bourgogne , and golden yellow are enhanced by dark bronze - modulate foliage . Bred to be cold hardy at temperatures as downhearted as 5 ° F , especially if the roots are protect by a layer of mulch .
' Casablanca’Alstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 ft wide of the mark
One of the few true whiteAlstroemeria , with kick of pale pink on the back and fleck of Bourgogne on the flower faces . A superb cut flower , producing legion efflorescence on grandiloquent , sturdy stem .
Colorita ® Katiana ® Alstroemeriax ' Zaprikatia '
peak and spread:8 to 12 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide
Variegated unripe and snowy foliation create a striking backdrop for this selection ’s scarlet - ruddy efflorescence . Splashes of pick in the center of each salad days echo the creamy blanched borders on the leaves .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are Peruvian lilies perennials?
Yes , similar todahlias , they are considered to be heavy - rooted tuberous perennials , which means they maturate from electric-light bulb - same tubers that produce new leafy stem every spring . In their grow geographical zone , they will return year after twelvemonth , but they will usually not make it in climates with winter temperature below 10 ° to 15 ° F .
Is Peruvian lily toxic?
No . fit in to theASPCA database of toxicant plants , Alstroemeriais not toxic to cats , hotdog , or horses . However , sap from the plant can induce link dermatitis , so put on baseball mitt when handling if you have sensitive hide .
Are Peruvian lilies invasive?
Alstroemeriahas a leaning to spread and colonise under favorable acquire conditions , but it has n’t been classified as being invasive in North America . If spread is a business , get your Peruvian lily in a container or where they wo n’t encroach upon nearby plants .
In what month do Peruvian lilies bloom?
Alstroemeriaplants will usually blossom endlessly from late spring through fall and throughout most of the year in Robert Lee Frost - loose climates . During the hottest months of the summertime , efflorescence may slow down or stop but should resume once the cooler atmospheric condition of drop arrives .
Are Peruvian lilies related to true lilies?
Although the flowers see very similar , Peruvian lilies are not actually a member of the lily family ( Liliaceae ) and instead belong to the Alstoemeriaceae . Unliketrue lily , which have unforesightful bloom periods , Peruvian lily will flower for month .
Do Peruvian lilies require staking?
Taller varieties will often benefit from stake because the stems have a tendency to founder when loaded with flowers . If you implant bushier dwarf kind , staking is rarely necessary .
How do you harvest Peruvian lilies for cut flowers?
Although they have no bouquet , Peruvian lilies are grand cut flowers because of their long vase life . To enjoy their beauty as long as possible , harvest the flower clustering when they have one or two flower exposed and the other bud are show color . Instead of cutting the flower stems , it ’s good to pluck them from the earth by grasping each base near the base and pulling upwards with a patrician tug . Before you place the root word in water , snip off the white part of each prow ( the cloak-and-dagger part ) and then trim the stem to the desire length . Also transfer any leaf that might sit below the water line .
- REGARDING PROPAGATION : When it comes to circularise patent plant , there are strict rules in position prohibit reproduction or propagation of these plant in any means . This stand for you ca n’t multiply them ( even for manipulation in your own garden ) , sell them , or bring them into the country without permission . The law does not make elision for what some might study minor infringements . Any unauthorised usance of patented plant is deliberate an infringement .
