Alstroemeria aurea Lutea

Alstroemeria aurea ‘Lutea’, a tuberous perennial, is a yellow form of the Peruvian Lily bearing corollas of a rich yellow, widely spotted and striate with reddish-brown on the upper petals. It is a vigorous plant, decorative in a sunny border, and also a very good cut flower. Fairly hardy (-10°C), it finds its place as well in a naturalistic garden as in a more sophisticated border.

From a botanical point of view, the Alstroemeria genus consists of perennials with tuberous or rhizomatous roots, close to so-called "bulbous" plants, belonging to the South American Alstroemeriaceae family. Alstroemeria aurea ‘Lutea’ is also sold under the names Alstroemeria aurantiaca 'Lutea', more rarely Alstroemeria aurea yellow. The plant forms an upright clump, with brittle stems emerging from fleshy rootstocks. It reaches between 80 cm and 1 m in height and 50 to 70 cm in width. The leaves, lanceolate, of a bright green, slightly twisted, are inserted in a spiral along the stems. The foliage is deciduous: the leaves disappear in winter, the plant survives thanks to its underground organs and reappears in spring. The inflorescences are terminal clusters bearing several flowers shaped like small lilies, 4 to 5 cm long and 3 to 4 cm in diameter, of a bright yellow or golden yellow, heavily punctate and streaked with brown to red on the inner petals. The summer flowering period extends from July to September depending on the climate.

In the garden, Alstroemeria aurea ‘Lutea’ is perfect at the front of a large sunny border, among other tall perennials. It can be paired with the golden flowering of Crocosmia ‘George Davison’, which echoes its yellow tones in a lighter register, and with the grace of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’. A few Hemerocallis ‘Corky’ add a different graphic quality, still within the yellow palette. To create a strong colour contrast, this Peruvian Lily can be paired with a shrubby sage with dark violet flowers, such as Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’. In a cut flower arrangement, the alstroemeria stems are enhanced by fine grasses and blue agapanthus.

Despite its name of Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, the Alstroemeria genus is mainly native to Chile and Argentina. It owes its name to a Swedish botanist, Clas Alströmer, who brought these plants to Europe in the 18th century.