Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria, commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas or Parrot Lily is a South American genus of about 50 species of flowering plants, mainly from cool, mountainous regions in the Andes.

Kingdom

Plantae

Super Division

Spermatophyta

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Asparagales

Family

Alstroemeriaceae

Genus

Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria is a slightly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) flower with 3 sepals and 3,generally, striped petals. The sepals and petals on the Alstroemeria are similar in color and texture - i.e., there are no solid green sepals. Alstroemeria has six stamens and an undivided style. The ovary on the Alstroemeria is inferior, with 3 carpels. Alstroemeria features a monocot plan of having floral parts in 3s.

Facts About Alstroemeria

• Alstroemeria flowers bloom during late spring or early summer.
• Alstroemeria come in orange, pink, rose, purple, red, yellow, white or salmon colors.
• Alstroemeria is named after the Swedish botanist Klas von Alstroemer, who was a pupil of the great botanical classifier Linnaeus.
• The genus Alstroemeria consists of about 50 species.
• Alstroemeria leaves are upside down. The leaf twists as it leaves the stem, so that the bottom is facing upwards.
• Alstroemeria is more like grass where the veins go up the leaves but none branching across. This can also be seen in grasses, irises and lilies.
• Alstroemeria flowers are no fragrance.
• If you look at an Alstroemeria stem you can sometimes see a spiral growth pattern on the stem. This is due to the production of new cells in a spiral sequence and this is the cause of the head moving the way it does.
• Most modern hybrid Alstroemeria plants are propagated in a laboratory.
• Not all Alstroemeria have striped petals.
• Alstroemeria stop producing flowers if they get too hot.

Cultivation and uses

Many hybrids and about 190 cultivars of Alstroemeria have been developed, with different markings and colors, ranging from white, golden yellow, orange, to apricot, pink, red, purple and lavender. Alstroemeria, which resembles a miniature lily, is very popularly used in bouquets and flower arrangements in the commercial cut flower trade. Alstroemeria have a vase life of about two weeks.

Some Species of Alstroemeria

• Alstroemeria aurea - Lily of the Incas.
• Alstroemeria aurantiaca - Peruvian Lily/Alstroemeria Princess Lily
• Alstroemeria caryophyllacea - Brazilian Lily
• Alstroemeria haemantha - Purplespot Parrot Lily
• Alstroemeria ligtu - Lily-of-the-Nile
• Alstroemeria psittacina - Lily of the Incas, White-edged Peruvian Lily/White Alstroemeria
• Alstroemeria pulchella - Parrot Lily, Parrot Flower, Red Parrot Beak, New Zealand Christmas Bell

Growing Alstroemerias

• Plant alstroemeria in full sun in well-drained soil.
• Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.
• Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.
• Set the plants 1 foot apart.
• Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.
• Water well until soil is completely moist.

Plant Care of Alstroemeria

• Cut off old flower stems with bypass pruners.
• Mulch around but not on top of the plants in early spring with 3 inches of organic compost.
• Water well weekly until soil is completely moist in summers with no rainfall.