Alstroemeria: how to choose them well in 3 points?

According to the colour of the flowers

There are a multitude of Alstroemerias, all pretty and colourful. They all share a common feature: three central petals striped with brown, giving them their exotic touch. They also come in a wide range of colours. Let’s explore the different colour variations together.

White Alstroemeria

White Alstroemerias are the most understated of the Inca Lilies. They have a romantic air in addition to their exotic touch. The ‘Inticancha Magic White’ is the whitest of all, a pure white speckled with brown and a very slight touch of green. The tall variety ‘Majestic Mazé’ is almost as white, with a slightly larger touch of green. ‘Garden Summer Sky’ is speckled with yellow. ‘Duc D’Anjou François’ brings us closer to the pink range, its petals washed with pale pink.

Pink and Purple Alstroemeria

Pink Inca Lilies are the most commonly encountered. They come in a beautiful range: from the warm coral-tinted to the cooler blue-tinted mauves. In between are soft pinks, bright pinks, and intense pinks. ‘Pitchounes Lola’ and ‘Duc Arthur’ are good representatives of this intense fuchsia pink. For coral pink, let’s look at ‘Inca Coral’, which is very soft. The ‘Pitchounes Lucas’ is adorned with purple flowers.

White and pink Alstroemerias: ‘Majestic Mazé’, ‘Garden Summer Sky’, ‘Duc D’Anjou François’, ‘Duc Arthur’, ‘Inca lake’

Yellow Alstroemeria

From the very pale and soft yellow of ‘Pitchounes Noah’ with its romantic tone to the very exotic yellow of ‘Inca Exotica’, the atmosphere is completely different! There is also the beautiful golden yellow of ‘Duc D’Anjou Nicolas’. Unusually, there is also a scented variety: ‘Sweet Laura’ with a spicy fragrance and temperament.

Orange Alstroemeria

‘Duchesses Aliénor’ is a beautiful orange lady tinted with salmon, while the Alstroemeria aurea ‘Orange King’ blazes with bright orange.

Red Alstroemeria

Coral red with ‘Duc D’Anjou Louis’ or ‘Duchesses Diane’, rose-red with ‘Garden Summer Red’, deep red with ‘Inticancha Red’, and intense red with ‘Mars’, red suits Alstroemerias well and allows for the addition of small intense flowers to warm or contrasting colour beds.

Warm-coloured Alstroemerias: ‘Majestic Briançon’, ‘Sweet Laura’, ‘Orange King’, ‘Pitchounes Stella’, ‘Mars’

Multicoloured Alstroemeria

Several cultivars delight in intense colour mixes or soft shades. Original, multicoloured Alstroemerias gain even more exoticism and are often very striped! Let’s mention the panther ‘Duchesses Marguerite’, covered in stripes, very well defined. ‘Majestic Chinon’, red, is also very striped. The Inca Lily ‘Indian Summer’, known and appreciated, features green-bronze foliage that highlights its multicoloured and flamboyant flowers. In the ‘Majestics’ series, many varieties are adorned with soft shimmering mixes in orange and salmon tones, such as ‘Majestics Avrillé’.

Exotic flair for multicoloured Alstroemerias: ‘Indian Summer’, ‘Majestics Chartrené’, ‘Duchesses Marguerite’

According to hardiness

Alstroemeria is generally not very hardy. However, there are significant differences among varieties in terms of frost tolerance. Some cultivars may be sensitive to frost as early as -5 °C, while others can tolerate occasional frosts down to -15 °C. Let’s take a closer look at the different series of Alstroemerias, from the most frost-sensitive to the hardiest.

The ‘Pitchounes’ Series

The ‘Pitchounes’ Alstroemerias are classified in USDA zone 9a. They are weakly hardy and can tolerate brief frosts around -5 °C. Reserve them for regions with mild winters or for pot cultivation.

The ‘Inticancha’, ‘Duchesses d’Anjou’, and ‘Inca’ Series

The ‘Inticancha’, ‘Duchesses d’Anjou’, and ‘Inca’ series are classified in USDA zone 8b. The ‘Inticancha’ Inca lilies can withstand occasional frosts of -5 to -8 °C. The same advice applies as for the ‘Pitchounes’: ideal for pots or reserved for regions with mild winters.

The ‘Majestics’ and ‘Duc d’Anjou’ Series

Classified in USDA zone 8a, the ‘Majestics’ and ‘Duc d’Anjou’ series are among the hardiest Alstroemerias. They can occasionally tolerate frosts of -12 to -15 °C.

The ‘Summer Paradise’ Series

The hardiest series: ‘Summer Paradise’ is classified in USDA zone 7b, and its cultivars can withstand frosts of around -15 °C.

These last three series can be grown in the ground, provided the stump is protected with a thick organic mulch and they benefit from well-drained soil.

According to height and use

Finally, let’s consider the Inca Lilies in terms of their height and usage. Indeed, the smallest, aptly named ‘Pitchounes’, will reach heights of 25 to 30 cm, while the tallest can attain 80 cm.

Varieties 25 to 35 cm in height

The ‘Pitchounes’, ‘Inticancha’, and ‘Duchesses’ series are varieties that grow to 25 to 35 cm in height. They are ideal for growing in pots, especially as they are not very hardy. They are easy to grow in medium. You can also plant them in the ground in the southernmost regions in well-drained, low-calcium soil.

Varieties 40 to 50 cm in height

The ‘Inca’ and ‘Duc D’Anjou’ series are suitable for pot and ground cultivation at the front of borders. They produce plants that are 40 to 50 cm tall when in flower. They are more versatile, as they are also hardier. They can tolerate occasional frosts of -5 to -8 °C for ‘Inca’ and -12 to -15 °C for ‘Duc D’Anjou’. In the ground, ensure they have a thick mulch in winter and, importantly, well-drained soil. At the edge of borders, they brighten up any setting with their light and vibrant flowers.

Varieties 60 to 85 cm in height

The ‘Majestics’ and ‘Summer Paradise’ series are the tallest. They readily find their place at the edge or in the middle of borders. They can withstand frosts of around -15 °C, making them the hardiest of the Alstroemerias. However, like their relatives, they always require well-drained, low-calcium soil and protective mulch.

A few other varieties of Alstroemerias in this size and hardiness category also grow well in the ground, such as the Alstroemeria ligtu-hybrid, the Alstroemeria ‘Mars’, ‘Mauve Majesty’, the Alstroemeria auriantica, and auriantica ‘Orange King’.

In pots or in the ground, find a place for Alstroemerias