Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
One of the most ubiquitous flowers found in bouquets in the Western world, Alstroemeria (also referred to as Peruvian Lily, Herb Lily or Lily of the Incas) is a much-loved bloom.
The reason is not just the fact that it comes in a variety of beautiful colours and delightfully creative designs, but that it is also easy to grow by amateur gardeners and professionals alike.
Native to South America, particularly Chile and Brazil, the flowers of the Alstroemeria plant don’t actually have a scent.1Alstroemeria. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326331-2
However, their looks and durability pretty much make up for that.
The plants will easily last until the end of summer when in the soil in the garden and for several weeks as cut flowers.
Dog and cat lovers will be pleased to hear that Alstroemeria and its different varieties are pet-friendly.
Overview
| Botanical Name | Alstroemeria |
| Common Name(s) | Peruvian Lily, Herb Lily, Lily of the Incas |
| Plant Type | Perennial Flower |
| Native Area | South America |
| Hardiness Rating | H5 |
| Foliage | Herbaceous, thin lance-like leaves |
| Flowers | Showy trumpet flowers in various vibrant colours |
| When To Sow | April, May, June |
| Flowering Months | June, July, August |
| When To Prune | September |
Sunlight
Preferred
Full Sun / Partial Shade
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Size
Height
0.5 – 1M
Spread
0.1 – 0.5M
Bloom Time
June – August
Soil
Preferred
Most Soil Types
Moisture
Moist but well drained
pH
Any
The colours that the Alstroemeria can brighten up your garden, or indoors with, are rainbow-like and include yellow, red, pink, purple, white, lavender, peach, orange and even blue or green.
“Like Dahlias, Alstroemerias are a bold, bright statement in the garden, but perhaps haven’t regained fashionable status in the same way,” says Master of Horticulture Colin Skelly.
“I love them (the bolder and brighter, the better!) because they are great for cut flower growing and as a relatively low maintenance but high impact garden plant.”
The leaves of this plant are long and slenderly shaped like a horseman’s lance, adding to its attractiveness.
The patterns are fascinating too; it’s possible to choose from stripes and freckles and even two-toned petals.
Alstroemeria can be grown directly in the garden soil (they make excellent border blooms) or nurtured in containers.
How To Grow Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria can be purchased easily from garden centres and nurseries around the UK.
Such is the popularity of the plants that they are always in demand so sellers tend to be well-stocked.
Florists, in particular, buy the grown flowers in batches.
You can buy them in containers or as bare root tubers – most gardeners swear by the former since they are easier to grow and tend to be propagated from quality plants.
Planting Alstroemeria
When To Plant
Sow Alstroemeria seed in the spring or summer months, using a good seed compost.
It is best to germinate undercover in a propagator or at least somewhere warm such as a heated or sunny spot in the greenhouse, a southern-facing window ledge or conservatory.
Certainly, the plants should only be planted outside once there is no further risk of frost on the ground (as this will kill young seedlings).
This will obviously vary depending on where in the UK you live.
Planting Out
They prefer the soil to be light and deep; preferably filled with quality compost and mulch – at least for the first couple of years while the roots develop.
And talking of the roots, these are brittle so take the utmost care if you plan on transplanting any of your Alstroemeria to other areas of the garden or into pots.
It’s best to plant the roots down as far as eight inches if possible.
Alstroemeria Care
Sunlight
Alstroemeria prefers sunny spots in which to flourish, but they are hardy enough to cope with partly-shaded areas too.
They will even flourish at the bottom of a sunny-facing wall.
Soil & Mulching
In terms of the soil, preferably it shouldn’t only be light, deep and exposed to the sun, but also organic.
Chalk, clay, sand or loam are usually fine.
However, if the soil is too sandy then compost should help with water retention issues and the plants can be watered regularly.
If the soil is heavy with clay then the Alstroemeria simply won’t grow and will die off.
Medium-heavy soils can work if gravel or mature manure is mixed in with it to help with drainage and nourishment.
Mulch them with bark for the first two years to give them extra protection.
Make sure too that the soil is free draining and slightly acidic to give the plants the best chances of growing.
Give the plants extra attention if you’re growing from tubers.
Staking
As the plants grow, they may need to be supported with stakes or pea sticks.
It’s common for the plants to grow to around six inches, while they will spread across the garden in an area measuring from 18-30 inches, which is why it’s excellent for flower borders.
Pruning
You can expect to get around 6-8 blooms per stem from your Alstroemeria if you prune it regularly.
It won’t remain flowering unless dead flowerheads are removed; doing so allows the fresh stems to flourish.
The way to prune these plants correctly is to gently pull the stem of the dead flower from the base of the plant (rather than cutting with shears).
Cutting the flowers causes damage to the meristems under the soil and they will die.
Having said that, if you want to use the flowers for a bouquet then cut the stalks during their first year.
After that simply pull them out from their base as you would the dead flowers.
Watering
It’s a good idea to keep watering your Alstroemeria when first planted in order to ensure the soil remains moist.
Once they begin to appear through the soil you can cut back but they do need to be watched for their first two years.
Just be careful not to overwater so that the soil becomes soaking wet, since this can lead to fungus and root rot and which will definitely signal the end of your beautiful blooms.
FAQs
Are Alstroemerias Annual Or Perennial?
Alstroemerias are tuberous perennials with deep and thick roots (once established).
This means that they will grow back year-on-year and even grow in size each time.
They are able to do this because although the stems die over winter, the roots remain healthy, allowing the plant to regenerate the following year.
How Can I Grow Alstroemeria From Seed?
Simply purchase seeds from your local garden centre or collect them yourself from existing Alstroemeria plants in your garden.
Plant them in seed starting trays (having pre-soaked them overnight) and grow them sheltered in the greenhouse until you’re ready to transplant some of the seedlings into soil or containers outdoors in the summer, and laid out around 12 inches apart.
In terms of growing time, it should take around six weeks for the seedlings to develop.
They should be protected with mulch as they grow and covered with straw in the winter for the first two years until the roots are firmly and deeply established in the soil.
Are Alstroemeria hardy plants?
Alstroemeria ranks under the category of ‘hardy perennials’.
They are capable of surviving intense frosts up to -20°C, provided they are properly mulched and their root systems are established and deep enough (usually after around two years of planting).
How Can I Make The Most Of Alstroemerias In My Garden And As Cut Flowers?
Use the plants to liven up and really add colour to the borders of your garden.
As cut flowers, they can boost the colour and height of a bouquet.
Taller varieties of the plant, such as ‘Orange Glory’ and ‘Apollo’, for instance, can add stature to a vase of flowers.
The colours of the different types of Alstroemeria are so vibrant that they can be used to clash with other flowers or add interest when mixed in with paler and less interesting blooms.
When choosing flowers for an arrangement, always go for those which are just beginning to open up so that the arrangement will last longer.
