PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
summertime Breeze Peruvian lily . Photo by : Proven Winners
Sometimes the sound inspiration for choose new flower to arise in your garden is a sojourn to the local florist . One blossom you ’re certain to occur across isAlstroemeria , also known as Peruvian lily .
Once grown mainly for commercial-grade utilisation as a cutting flower , Alstroemeriahas more recently become a popular addition to the perennial garden , where it puts on a dazzling display of showy lily - corresponding blooms , ramble in color from whisper - soft pastels to vibrant jewel tones .
In temperate climates , this South American native can be uprise outdoors year - round , often blooming for months on death . But gardener in nerveless mood can also enjoy the alien peach of Peruvian lilies by rise them in a container that can be brought indoors over the winter month .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked dubiousness
BASICS
Botanical name:
Alstroemeriaspp . and hybrids
Common names:
Peruvian lily , lily of the Incas , princess lily , parrot lily
Plant type:
Tuberous - settle herbaceous perennial
Zones:
Typically 8 - 10 ; some may be hardy to zona 6 or 7 when give supererogatory security .
Exposure:
Full sunshine to part ghost
Height/spread:
Anywhere from 8 inches to 4 metrical foot magniloquent , bet on the variety . Dwarf shape ( also called “ micro Alstroemeria ” ) are broadly under a foot grandiloquent .
Bloom time:
efflorescence incessantly from late spring until frost if spend flowers are removed pronto .
Foliage:
Lance - shaped leaves range in color from emerald green to bronze . Some cultivar have vary foliage . Fun fact : The leaves really develop upside down , sprain 180 degrees from the al-Qaeda as they unfurl — a process called “ resupination . ”
Flowers:
horn - shaped blooms up to 2 inches across occur in shades of orange , yellow , red , pink , purple , salmon , white , or bi - coloured , often emphasize by darker whiskers or speckles . Each bloom stem produce multiple bloom .
Special attributes:
Landscape uses:
sundry borders , cut prime garden , container gardens , pollinator gardens , bungalow garden
PLANTING ALSTROEMERIA
picture by : Madele / Shutterstock .
When to plant:
In spring , after the danger of hoarfrost has passed .
Where to plant:
Alstroemeriaprefer a sunny site with fecund , well - drained soil , although they will gain from some afternoon spook where summers are exceptionally red-hot . Do not plant in an area prone to standing water , which can contribute to etymon rot . If potential , flora improbable types in a localisation sheltered from the wind to keep the stems from bending and breaking .
How to plant:
Alstroemeriagrows from tuberous theme , which are easily damaged if not handled carefully . To void break , get the picture a maw about 6 to 8 inches deep , remove the industrial plant from its greenhouse pot , and then nestle it into the hole so that the soil tier is even with the top of the rootball . Avoid spreading or teasing out the root , even if they look congested . Backfill with the environ soil , get to sure the roots are whole cut through , and then tamp down the soil gently . Water well after embed to settle the dirt around the rootball , top off with more soil if necessary .
Spacing:
Space works about 1 to 2 feet asunder , depend on their width at maturity .
Growing in containers:
Compact varieties of Peruvian lily are especially well - suited for acquire in containers , either alone or in sundry arrangements . Choose a sens slightly wider and abstruse than the plant ’s base system , making certain there are plenty of drain holes in the bottom to foreclose the territory from getting waterlogged . one-half fill up the container with a gamy - timber all - purpose potting mix , and gather the plant in so that the top of the rootball sits about an inch below the flange . Backfill with more potting mix , firm it down around the plant with your fingers to remove any line pocket . Get more hint forgrowing plant in container .
ALSTROEMERIA CARE
Watering:
Alstroemeriathrives when given consistent wet , but they will not tolerate mucky soil , which can conduce to rotting of the overweight , tuberous roots . During dry spells , provide about an inch of water per calendar week . water system container - grow plants whenever the top inch of soil feels dry . Once plant life are established , they can handle brusque periods of drought .
Amendments and fertilizer:
BecauseAlstroemeriagrows best in fertile , well - draining soil , amend it at planting time withcompostto improve drain and add nutrient . Also apply a stratum of mulch around the root geographical zone of your plants to serve keep the soil moist and insulate the root from temperature extremum .
In natural spring , an covering of a balanced , obtuse - sacking fertilizer designed for florescence plants will help jumpstart increase . To keep your potted Peruvian lily in salad days , feed in them monthly during the growing time of year using awater - soluble plant life food .
Pruning and deadheading:
To savor a steady harvest of flowers , remove spent blooms by gently pulling the whole stem up from the base rather than clip them off . This advance the ontogeny of new prow and another bloom of bloom . In spring , when brisk shoots cast , tidy up up your plants by attract out old shank to make way for Modern growth .
Propagating:
The prompt and loose way to propagateAlstroemeriais todivide matured thump in early spring , making sure there are sizable genus Tuber in each class . Alstroemeriacan also be propagated from come , but sprouting rates run to be low and plants startle from collected seeds may not stay true to the parent . * See billet below on propagating or separate patent plants ( check your industrial plant tag for the ® or ™ symbol by the flora name ) .
Overwintering:
In clime whereAlstroemeriaaren’t winter hardy , you’re able to overwinter the tubers indoors by digging them up in the fall after the first frost , being careful not to damage the roots . With some land still attach , pack the root between layer of peat moss , sawdust , or wood shave and store them in a cool place ( between 35 ° to 45 ° F ) .
If maturate plants in container , bestow the pots indoors over the winter and storehouse in a cool garage or basement , water just enough to keep the soil from entirely dry out out . you could move your Peruvian lily outdoors again when the weather warms in the springiness .
Pests and diseases:
slug and snailsmay attack the leafage , especially crank , youthful leaves . Also keep an eye on out foraphids , thripsandspider mites . In overly plastered conditions , plants 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 inch tall and wide
Features soft , pantry yellow blossom punctuate by burgundy marking and darker yellow centre . Perfect for container or garden borders , thanks to a thickset , mounding habit .
See more Peruvian lilies from Proven Winners .
Inca Magic ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersAlstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:10 to 14 inches marvellous , 14 to 16 inches wide
A unfeignedly magical combination of creamy white flowers with Burgundy wine and plum tree splodge and a splash of halcyon yellowness on the upper petal . Produces loads of blossom over a long bloom catamenia , from early summertime well into fall .
Inca Noble ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersAlstroemeriahybrid
Zones:7 - 10
meridian and spread:8 to 12 inches improbable , 14 to 16 in broad
A dwarf sort with stunning bass regal heyday spotlight by whitened centers and dark , about fateful whiskers . Sturdy stem and a mounding habit eliminates the need for staking .
exposure by : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
' The Third Harmonic’Alstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:2 to 4 feet tall , 2 to 3 feet wide
bring out an plosion of large funnel - shaped flowers that interchange color from yellow to abstruse golden orange as they mature . Will bloom near twelvemonth - beat in rime - spare gardens .
Photo by : Jonathan Ward / Millette Photomedia
' Amerind Summer’Alstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:26 to 30 column inch grandiloquent , 20 to 24 inch wide
Lily - similar blooms in warm autumnal refinement of orange , burgundy , and golden lily-livered are heighten by dark bronze - inflect foliage . spawn to be cold-blooded hardy at temperatures as low as 5 ° F , particularly if the roots are protected by a stratum of mulch .
' Casablanca’Alstroemeriahybrid
Height and spread:3 to 4 ft marvellous and 2 to 3 feet wide
One of the few rightful whiteAlstroemeria , with flower of sick pink on the back and chip of burgundy on the bloom faces . A superb cut peak , producing numerous blooms on tall , sturdy stems .
Colorita ® Katiana ® Alstroemeriax ' Zaprikatia '
Height and spread:8 to 12 inches marvelous and 18 to 24 inches wide
Variegated light-green and white foliage creates a dramatic backdrop for this selection ’s scarlet - crimson flowers . Splashes of ointment in the centre of each bloom echo the creamy blanched borders on the leave of absence .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are Peruvian lilies perennials?
Yes , similar todahlias , they are regard to be fleshy - rooted tuberous perennials , which means they grow from light bulb - similar tubers that acquire new leafy stems every spring . In their growing zone , they will return twelvemonth after twelvemonth , but they will normally not survive in clime with winter temperatures below 10 ° to 15 ° F .
Is Peruvian lily toxic?
No . allot to theASPCA database of poisonous plants , Alstroemeriais not toxic to cats , dogs , or horse . However , sap from the plant can induce contact dermatitis , so wear baseball glove when handling if you have sore tegument .
Are Peruvian lilies invasive?
Alstroemeriahas a disposition to circulate and colonise under favorable growing atmospheric condition , but it has n’t been sort as being invasive in North America . If scatter is a fear , grow 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 commonly flower endlessly from late spring through fall and throughout most of the twelvemonth in frost - free mood . During the hottest months of the summertime , flowering may slow down or block off but should resume once the cooler weather of fall arrives .
Are Peruvian lilies related to true lilies?
Although the flowers depend very similar , Peruvian lilies are not actually a member of the lily family ( Liliaceae ) and instead belong to the Alstoemeriaceae . Unliketrue lilies , which have short bloom periods , Peruvian lily will bloom for calendar month .
Do Peruvian lilies require staking?
Taller kind will often benefit from impale because the stems have a tendency to fall through when laden with flower . If you plant bushier gnome varieties , punt is seldom necessary .
How do you harvest Peruvian lilies for cut flowers?
Although they have no fragrance , Peruvian lily are fantastic cut blossom because of their long vase life . To savour their smasher as long as possible , glean the heyday clustering when they have one or two bloom open and the other buds are showing colour . alternatively of cut the bloom stanch , it ’s best to pluck them from the ground by grasping each radical near the base and pulling upward with a easy tugboat . Before you place the stems in H2O , snip off the white part of each root word ( the underground portion ) and then bring down the radical to the desired distance . Also get rid of any leaf that might sit below the water line .
- REGARDING multiplication : When it comes to disseminate patented plants , there are rigid rule in place prohibiting procreation or propagation of these plant in any way . This mean you ca n’t procreate them ( even for purpose in your own garden ) , deal them , or wreak them into the country without permit . The law does not make exceptions for what some might consider underage infringements . Any unauthorized use of patented plants is considered an infringement .
