Alstroemeria Flower Care: 3 Types of Blooming Alstroemerias

Alstroemeria plants (also known by the common name lily of the Incas) are bright, tropical flowering plants of the Alstroemeriaceae family. They are perennials that provide vibrant, lily-like blooms in shades of red, orange, purple, or white. Alstroemerias can range in size but usually grow between one and three feet tall in warm climates similar to their native habitat in South America. The eighteenth-century Swedish botanist Clas Alströmer is the plant’s namesake.

You can use alstroemeria flowers to accent bouquets and centerpieces or highlight the hues of smaller cut flowers in mixed floral arrangements. However, alstroemeria is a poisonous plant, so handle it with care. Contact with the plant’s excreted sap can cause skin and eye irritation, and a toxin in the plant can cause diarrhea and vomiting if pets or small children consume it in large doses.

There are numerous types of alstroemeria plants that produce different sizes and colors of alstroemeria flowers. Here are just three types:

1. 1. Parrot lily: Alstroemeria psittacina is commonly known as the parrot lily because its bright and feather-like blooms resemble the bird by the same name. The blooms produce spotted pink flowers that fade into frills that look like wispy green leaves. With a two-week vase life, these flowers can be a long-lasting addition to flower arrangements.
2. 2. St. Martin’s flower: Alstroemeria ligtu is a large species native to Peru and other South American countries. It can grow up to three feet tall and reproduce through the dispersion of rhizomes. Blooms usually produce red flowers with streaks of apricot on the petals.
   
3. 3. Yellow alstroemeria: Alstroemeria aurea—also called a Peruvian lily—is actually native to Chile and Argentina. As the name entails, this hardy perennial produces golden yellow flowers or white flowers with spotted yellow throats near the flower stem.

Follow these steps to learn how to grow these flowering plants:

1. 1. Choose a location with the right conditions. Plant alstroemeria tubers approximately eight inches deep into well-draining soil in an area that will receive full sun or partial shade. Most species of this plant type thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7–10. However, certain hybrids grow well outside these zones.
   
2. 2. Plant alstroemeria tubers after the last frost of the year. Depending on your region, you should typically plant alstroemeria between early spring and late spring to avoid subjecting the tuber to chilly soil temperatures and frost. This planting schedule should result in a bloom time that begins in early summer and extends into the early fall.
3. 3. Assist the plant until it takes hold. Alstroemeria are relatively low-maintenance flowers, but you might need to take action to help the plant throughout its growth cycle. Water regularly, especially if you enter a drought season. However, it is important not to overwater because the tuberous roots are susceptible to rot and disease in humid conditions. If the flower stem of your plant begins to bend from the weight of the blooms, you can support it by fastening the stem to small stakes or sticks.
4. 4. Prepare your plants for winter. To promote healthy growth for your other blooms, deadhead (remove) any wilted or dying blooms in the fall. Spread mulch around the base of the plant in late fall to insulate the root system ahead of the upcoming winter season.

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