Pointers to get the most of your Alstroemerias

Alstroemeria are popular as cut flowers adorning bouquets and centrepieces. They also make great garden plants. Here are the essentials you need to know about this versatile plant.

Alstroemeria is a member of the lily family, and its trumpet-like blossoms do resemble those of the lily. However, rather than growing from true bulbs, alstroemerias grow from thick, brittle roots. In the garden the roots spread outward, forming colonies. If left untended the plants can become weedy-looking, but this is easily avoided by clipping off old flowers and foliage in midsummer. This grooming is really the only maintenance that alstroemerias require. Alstroemerias need excellent drainage. Plant in deep, loamy soil that holds moisture well in spring and early summer and dries out almost completely in the fall. If your soil is heavy clay, it is best to grow these flowers in raised beds.

• Alstroemerias grow 75 centimetres (2.5 feet) tall when planted in the garden, with the bulk of the flowers rising on thin, sturdy stems in early summer.
• The alstroemerias that grow well in a wide range of climates have flowers that are either yellow or deep orange, though it is possible to find varieties with purple, white, lavender or pink flowers.
• Alstroemeria leaves are narrow, slightly twisted and usually medium green.
•  Alstroemerias can become garden standouts when grown near perennials that like similar growing conditions.

• Set out container-grown plants in fall, even though they may look ragged or dormant.
• Carefully set the fleshy roots in well-dug beds, covering them with 15 centimetres (six inches) of soil.
• The plants will not emerge until spring and may not bloom well until the following year.
• After alstromerias are planted, it is best to leave them alone, because digging and dividing always reduces flowering for at least a year and the brittle roots are easily damaged.
• After the first hard freeze of autumn, pile a fluffy, insulating mulch, such as evergreen boughs or straw, at least 10 centimetres (four inches) deep over alstroemerias.
• The plants will endure a cold winter as long as the soil does not freeze hard to the depth at which the roots are planted.
• Cold injury caused by shallow planting or prolonged freezing is the main problem you are likely to have with these durable plants. Otherwise, they are untroubled by pests or diseases.

Whether in a bouquet on your table or in your garden, alstroemerias add panache and bold colour. Try these growing tips so you can enjoy them throughout the summer.