Alstroemeria 'Konpulse' INCA PULSE - Alstroemère Inca Pulse, Lys des Incas Inca Pulse

The Alstroemeria ‘Konpulse’ Inca Pulse is a compact Peruvian lily that is generous and prized for its long flowering period and warm colour, dominated by orange-red and golden yellow. This variety from the Inca series is used in potted arrangements, borders, small beds and cut flower arrangements. It flowers for a long time, is reliable, and looks tidy both in the garden and on the balcony.

This Alstroemeria belongs to the family of Alstroemeriaceae. The cultivar is protected under the name ‘Konpulse’, and marketed as Inca Pulse. It was bred by Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Konst for Konst Breeding B.V., in the Netherlands, and introduced from the early 2000s. The Inca series brings together varieties selected for garden and container growing: all have a compact habit, prolonged flowering and good performance. Like other horticultural Alstroemerias, it is a perennial hybrid with fleshy roots, deriving from a South American genetic background; the genus Alstroemeria originates from a vast area ranging from southern Venezuela to southern South America, with many species present in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Inca Pulse forms a dense, erect clump, 40 to 45 cm tall and 35 to 40 cm wide. Its stems are firm and very upright. The foliage, deciduous, consists of narrow, lanceolate, bright green leaves arranged all along the stems. The plant becomes dormant in winter then resprouts from the rootstock in spring, provided the latter has not been killed by frost. Flowering extends from June to October. The flowers, 4.5 to 5 cm in diameter, clustered at the tips of the stems, are funnel-shaped. They display six tepals: the outer ones are orange-red with a broad yellow zone towards the centre; the inner ones, smaller, bear darker streaks and speckles. The overall effect is bright, striking, visible from a distance, and the flowers last several days in a vase. The roots, thick and brittle, are rather fragile, requiring well-drained soil and careful handling. The rootstock will withstand frosts of around -5 to -10°C under a mulch and in very well-drained soil. Growing in pots makes it possible to protect the plant from frost in winter.

This Inca Pulse Peruvian lily is used at the front of a bed, in a flowering border or in a large pot. It easily fits into small spaces, provided it is given rich, moist but well-drained soil. In a hot climate, light partial shade helps it retain its bright colours; elsewhere, full sun suits it well as long as it is not scorching. To accompany it, choose for example the Alstroemeria Inca Lake, the shrubby sage ‘Royal Bumble’, the Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ to add lightness, or the Nemesia fruticans ‘Nesia Burgundy, a red, fragrant annual that flowers all summer.