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Plant Profile: Alstroemeria - Princess Lily

Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria - Princess Lily - "Yellow King"

Family: Alstroemeriaceae

Common Name(s): Peruvian Lily, Princess Lily

Native to: South America

Flowering: Spring-Summer

Watering: Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth

Planting Aspect: Full sun to part shade

Preferred Climate: Temperate, Subtropical, Grassland


Description

Alstroemeria - Standard
Alstromeria are easy to grow with excellent results producing beautiful lily-like flowers on tall stems to 1metre in height for many months of the year. Their outward facing flowers usually with flaring petals are variously spotted or streaked. They will flower in partly shaded positions in warmer northern climates of Australia to full sun positions in the southern areas. The important aspect is to keep the soil cooler around the plant to assist a longer more prolific flowering. They can be grown in either the garden or in pots and containers and make wonderful long lasting cut flowers.


Alstroemeria - Mini
The miniature form of Alstromeria are easy to grow with excellent results producing beautiful lily-like flowers for up to 9 months of the year and only growing to a height of 30cm. They will flower in partly shaded positions in warmer northern climates of Australia to full sun positions in the southern areas. The important aspect is to keep the soil cooler around the plant to assist a longer more prolific flowering. They can be grown in either the garden or in pots and containers.

 

Alstroemeria ligtu- Hybrid
Hybrid Alstromeria will flower in the garden from spring to summer. They are tuberous and rhizomatous plants with erect, wiry stems which bear scattered, thin, twisted, lanceolate leaves concentrated on the upper half of the plant. The stems terminate in umbels of broad petalled outward facing flowers and variously spotted or streaked upper petals often in strongly contrasting colours. They can also be grown in containers and make excellent cut flowers. These varieties will grow to a height of 60 to 100cm tall.

Cultivation

Alstromeria grow well in sun or light shade in a well enriched and well drained acidic soil plus given adequate moisture during the growing season. The fleshy roots can withstand drought type conditions if necessary, but will perform poorly if desiccated. Plant the rhizomes about 30 to 40cm apart and 20cm deep, but handle them with care as they are quite brittle. They soon form large clumps bearing dozens of flower heads on many stems. Alstromerias are only moderately frost hardy, but if the dormant tubers are protected in cold winters by covering the soil with loose peat, compost or dry bracken, they are assured of giving great gardening satisfaction and can left undisturbed for many years. When growing them in containers, make sure the pot is at least 25 to 30cm deep with good drainage and use a fast draining soil mix. Longer flower stems will require staking. Try to grow them where the foliage will stay moderately dry and not subjected to continuous wetness as this will cause Botrytis and rotting. Protect them from snails, slugs, aphids and mites.



Revised: 18th Mar 2010 @ 9:34 PM
Keywords: alstroemeria, princess lily, alstroemeriaceae, alstroemeria, lily, flowers, plant, princess, stems, flower, soil, containers