Alstroemeria

( al - strem - MEER - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, plants in this perennial genus sprout from underground tubers. They produce beautiful flowers that will attract birds and pollinators to the landscape. Almost all species of Alstroemeria are native to South America (mostly in Chile and Brazil). These flowers need afternoon shade in warmer climates, but otherwise can take a good amount of sun and need regular water during growth and bloom periods to perform well. Cut flowers are beautiful in fresh arrangements. Use Alstroemeria in mixed beds and borders, in containers, as pollinator plants, or simply as specimens in the garden. Take care when planting this flower in your garden, as working with these flowers can cause contact dermatitis.

Alstroemeria Species and Varietals

The genus Alstroemeria includes around 120 species and is the type genus member of the plant family Alstroemeriaceae. The genus, first described by Johan Peter Falk was named by Carl Linnaeus after a friend of his, Clas Alstromer. These flowers grow best in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset growing zones 5-9, 14-24 and H1. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Alstroemeria aurea (Alstroemeria aurantiaca) (Yellow Alstroemeria, Golden Alstroemeria, Parrot Lily, Princess Lily)
Native to Chile, this evergreen plant gets 3-4 feet tall and produces many leafy flowering stems topped with yellow, orange, or orange-red flowers. Blooms are speckled with darker flecks and stripes. Plant 8 inches deep and 1 foot apart. Once established, this plant is vigorous, to the point of being a bit invasive. Hardy to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alstroemeria spp. Hybrids (Hybrid Alstroemeria, Hybrid Peruvian Lily)
These plants vary in height and come in many colors. The most common flower colors are purple, pink, and red with dark flecks. They are usually sold by color, so purchase these flowers when they are in bloom to ensure you're getting the one you want. Most hybrids will produce flowers if the soil temperatures are not too warm. Repeat blooms can be stimulated by pulling up the flowering stems from the base; if they are simply deadheaded (cut low) they will not rebloom. Best times to pick flowers for arrangements are in the cool months (spring and fall).

'Antarctica'

'Apollo'

'Azula'

'Bali'

'Butterscotch'

'Cahors'

'Cassablanca'

'Celine'

'Cerise'

'Champagne'

'Cleo'

'Colorita Ariane'

'Colorita Claire'

'Colorita Elaine'

'Compact Red'

'Coronet'

'Dr. Salter's Hybrids'

'Dusty Rose'

'Dwarf Fuchsia'

'Elvira'

'Flaming Star'

'Fougere'

'Freedom'

'Friendship'

'Glory of the Andes'

'Henry's Violet'

'Inca Bandit'

'Inca Glow'

'Inca Ice'

'Inca Joli'

'Inca Lake'

'Inca Lolly'

'Inca Mambo'

'Inca Pulse'

'Inca Sweety'

'Inca Vito'

'Indian Summer'

'Koice'

'Lavender Blush'

'Little Eleanor'

'Magic White'

'Margaret'

'Marjorie's Hybrid'

'Mars'

'Mauve Majesty'

'Meyer's Rose'

'Orange Gem'

'Orange Glory'

'Oriana'

'Pacific Sunset'

'Patricia Lynn'

'Perfect Orange'

'Phoenix'

'Prima Donna'

'Princess Ariane'

'Princess Amina'

'Princess Angela'

'Princess Diana'

'Princess Eliane'

'Princess Fabiana'

'Princess Felicia'

'Princess Ivana'

'Princess Letizia'

'Princess Louise'

'Princess Mathilde'

'Princess Sara'

'Princess Victoria'

'Rachael'

'Red Elf'

'Red Sensation'

'Red Valley'

'Rock n' Roll'

'Royal Star'

'Saturne'

'Sirius'

'Sonata'

'Spitfire'

'Summer Breeze'

'Sunlight'

'Sussex Gold'

'Sweet Laura'

'Tessa'

'The Third Harmonic'

'Watermellon'

Alstroemeria pelegrina (Peruvian Lily, Inca Lily, Los Molles Butterfly)
This is the type species of the genus Alstroemeria, and can reach up to 8 to 24 inches tall when mature. Leaves are vivid green, and flowers are large and showy. Blooms are intensely pink with purple-pink centers and yellow markings on upper petals.

Alstroemeria psittacina (Alstroemeria pulchella) (Parrot Flower, Parrot Lily, Lily of the Incas, Princess Lily, New Zealand Christmas Bell)
Odd but attractive evergreen flower that is native to Brazil. Flowering stems are 2.5 to 3 feet tall are topped by a few dark red flowers that are marked with green and blotched with dark purple. Travels by rhizomes, but is not invasive. Prefers partial to deep shaded areas. There is a variegated form available with leaves marked in white.

Caring for Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria, or Peruvian Lily, plants are typically purchased as starts from a reputable nursery or grower, but can also be purchased as bare root or seed. Space flowers between 12 and 18 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. These flowers appreciate a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best flowering. In warmer climates, provide some shade during the warmest hours of the day (typically between 2 and 3 PM). If they are grown in too much shade, however, they will develop a tendency to flop over and not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Alstroemerias are considered to be somewhat drought tolerant, able to get by for most of the year on rainwater alone. Provide supplemental irrigation during extended periods of drought and during hot spells.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Shearing the entire plant to the ground is not recommended; doing so will cause stunted growth in the next growing season. These plants will form large colonies if not checked; divide plants every few years for best performance and to avoid overcrowding the planting area. For instructions on how to successfully divide Alstroemeria plants, see the Propagation section below. Peruvian Lilies can last for upwards of 20-30 years in the landscape; as their colonies grow, new plants are produced, allowing these flowers to be some of the longest-lasting cut flowers available to home gardeners.

Growing Alstroemeria in Containers
Alstroemeria, while being a fantastic bedding plant, can also be cultivated in containers. Compact varieties such as those in the 'Inticancha' or 'Pitchoune' series or other cultivars such as 'Lola', 'White Buttons', or 'Oriana' do very well in pots. Choose a large container that is at least 12 inches wide and deep, and fill with a well-draining but moisture retentive potting soil amended with plenty of organic material and perlite. Apply a layer of mulch to the top of the soil to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Place the container in a space that receives full sun for most of the day with some late afternoon shade. Water Peruvian Lilies regularly; those grown in containers will need more frequent waterings than those grown in the ground. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms.

Harvesting Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria are popular cut flowers, adding color and filler to bouquets and arrangements. There are many varieties of Alstroemeria that are grown for this purpose; taller varieties are best. They are typically in season from June through October, and are harvested by pulling the flowering stem up from its roots instead of making a cut at the base of the stem. Harvest flowering stems when they have buds that are swollen and ready to pop open. Grab the stem halfway down and gently tug until it comes free. Once it is out of the ground, cut the root end off and strip the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Drop the cut stems in cool water. Alstroemeria cut flowers have a vase life of about 3 weeks, making them a longer-lasting choice for arrangements. Change the water in the vase every two days or so, cutting the base of stems before placing them back in the vase. Doing so will extend their vase life.

Propagation

Take care when working with plant parts, as they can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. These plants are not difficult to propagate; they are typically divided. If you'd like to expand a colony of Alstroemeria or share the plant with friends, you'll need a clean garden shovel, well-draining soil amended with compost, and an extra pot or two if you won't be immediately replanting your divisions in the garden. Once you've gathered your materials, follow the instructions below:

Dig up your tuber clump, beginning a little outside the outer plants in the clump so you don't damage the roots. Once you've gotten your clump out of the ground, lay it out and fill in the void it has left with your amended well-draining soil.
Divide your clump into as many sections as you'd like, being careful to keep a few healthy tubers in each root section.
Replant your tuber clumps in individual pots, or in different spots in your garden, first filling your pot or amending your existing soil with new, well-draining rich soil. Water well.
Even though this dividing process is necessary at times for the health of the plant, your divisions will not necessarily bloom in the first or even second season after this occurs. Alstroemeria tuber clumps do not perform well if the soil around them is disturbed. Continue to provide water and ensure that drainage is occurring as your divided plant grows, and enjoy watching it bloom.

Problems and Pests

Although these plants have not made any official entry onto invasive species lists, they are aggressive spreaders. Dig up tubers where you do not want these plants growing; if you leave even part of an underground tuber in a planting area, it may grow and multiply. If you are concerned about this issue becoming a problem in your yard, either contain the tubers with an underground barrier or simply plant your Alstromeria tubers in a pot. The common issues that affect Alstroemeria include: