Alstroemeria Inticancha Valentino - Peruvian Lily

The Asltroemeria Inticancha^® 'Red' or 'Valentino', like all varieties of the Inca Lily from the 'Inticancha^® ' series, stands out for its extraordinary floribundity and compact habit, well suited for ornamental use in containers and borders. The plant produces continuous flowering from June to October, with satiny lily-like flowers in a dark red shade for 'Red' and a pinkish hue for 'Valentino', adorned with delicate brown spots. They are borne on low, sturdy stems that are weather-resistant. This less hardy perennial plant is easy to grow as an annual and requires very little maintenance. Plant it in partial shade or full sun, in a light, not too dry soil.

The Alstroemeria Inticancha^® Red (Tesrobin) and Valentino (Tesvalen) are recent and visually similar varieties. They are hybrids of several tuberous species native to South America, particularly the Chilean Andes. These high-altitude plants, belonging to the amaryllis family, can be more or less hardy and prefer cool, well-drained soils in lightly wooded areas. Slow to establish, they can either disappear or become invasive! Quirky and fantastic plants, very sensitive to growing conditions, they are "indestructible" once you have found the right spot for them. The word "Inticancha" means "temple of the sun" in the Inca language.

Inticancha^® 'Red' and 'Valentino', like almost all the plants in the series, are particularly easy to grow in good potting soil. Each plant quickly forms bushy clumps with leafy stems reaching 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) in height when in flower, with a spread of 30 cm (12in). Flowering occurs continuously from June to October-November. The open flowers are gathered in terminal umbels. They consist of 3 small central petals with dark brown markings, surrounded by 3 wider petals in a solid, satin and deep red colour. The flower's center has brown stamens with grayish-purple anthers, and the base of the corolla is almost black. Each plant can produce at least 30 flowers. The foliage is arranged on the upper part of the stems. The leaves of this variety are dark green. The plant disappears in winter, with only the trailing stump and fleshy roots remaining underground, which can withstand frost down to -5/-8°C. The latter is sensitive to transplant shock, especially in older plants.

The Alstroemeria Inticancha^® looks stunning in flowering pots and bouquets. On a terrace or balcony, it forms a floral bouquet that rivals the balcony geraniums. In flower beds, this plant pairs well, for example, with other varieties from the Inticancha series ('Classic', 'Imala', 'Indigo') as well as complementary grasses. Stipa, small Miscanthus, or Muhlenbergia capillaris will accompany its richly colored flowers with their foliage and magnificent late-season blooms. You can also plant silver baskets or Ceratostigma plumbaginoides at its base, with intensely blue flowers and red foliage in October. A marvel!

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, repot and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14C° for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost has passed.